Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Santa Barbara County Sheriff After an In-Custody Fatality

The family of a deceased California man filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Santa Barbara County Sheriff, alleging negligence and misconduct leading to a tragic in-custody death.

The Case: San Juana Rodriguez-Gonzalez et al. v. County of Santa Barbara et al.

The Court: Los Angeles Federal Court

The Case No.: 2:24-cv-04685

The Plaintiff: San Juana Rodriguez-Gonzalez et al. v. County of Santa Barbara et al.

The Decedent's family filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Los Angeles against the Santa Barbara County Sheriff (and others) after the in-custody death of their son, Luis Duron. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed on June 5, 2024.

The Incident: San Juana Rodriguez-Gonzalez et al. v. County of Santa Barbara et al.

According to court documents, the Decedent, Luis Enrique Duron-Rodriguez, was pursued for excessive speed by Santa Barbara Sheriff Deputies on August 31, 2023, around 6:16 am on Hollister Avenue. Duron-Rodriguez drove his Infinity vehicle until it collided with a parked vehicle before he struck a tree. The collision resulted in notable front-end damage, resulting in deployed airbags. Santa Barbara's fire department responded to the scene. Duron-Rodriguez was transported from the scene of the collision to Goleta Cottage Hospital, where he was evaluated before medical staff released him for booking.

Court Records Indicate A Problem became apparent soon after booking

According to documentation of the incident, Duron-Rodriguez was booked for:

1) suspicion of driving under the influence, resulting in injury

2) reckless driving, and

3) hit and run with injuries.

The court records also indicate that the Decedent was not immediately placed on alcohol withdrawal syndrome protocol. The following day, Duron-Rodriguez appeared confused and disoriented. On September 2, 2023, Duron-Rodriguez was found unresponsive in his Santa Barbara County jail cell. Medical staff began life-saving measures, including CPR and placement of an AED, and transported Duron-Rodriguez back to Cottage Hospital. However, he died at the hospital.

Plaintiffs Claim Negligence in Santa Barbara In-Custody Death

In this case, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff (along with other implicated parties) faces accusations of negligence surrounding the in-custody death of Duron-Rodriguez. The family of Duron-Rodriguez specifically claims that medical personnel at the Santa Barbara County Jail did not administer essential care for his injuries resulting from a collision and for symptoms related to substance withdrawal syndrome.

If you have questions about filing a California wage and hour class action lawsuit, please contact Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in Riverside, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Substantial Wrongful Death Settlement Reached After Tragic Mercer County Collision

In a poignant resolution to a devastating tragedy, families of two brothers-in-law who perished in a fiery collision in Mercer County have secured a nearly $2 million settlement, highlighting the legal avenues for wrongful death redress in fatal accidents.

The Case: Ashley Reed et al. v. James W. Bilton et al.

The Court: Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County

The Case No.: MER-L-1631-19

The Incident: Ashley Reed et al. v. James W. Bilton et al.

The wrongful death case, Ashley Reed et al. v. James W. Bilton et al., started in the early afternoon of March 26, 2018. That afternoon, Arthur “Artie” Reed and Mark Leary, brothers-in-law, drove on Route 29 in Mercer County, New Jersey. The two were going to pick up Mark’s adopted son David from school, but they never made it. That day, just before 1 pm, a 2007 Mack dump truck headed northbound on the same road collided with the two men’s vehicle. The head-on collision resulted in Artie’s car being pinned under the dump truck, at which point the two vehicles burst into flames. Artie and Mark were trapped inside. Mark was incinerated, and flames engulfed critically injured and unconscious Artie.

Settling the case: Ashley Reed et al. v. James W. Bilton et al.

The families the men left behind filed a wrongful death lawsuit, which was finally settled after six years. DAT LLC (the dump truck owner involved in the collision) and the State of New Jersey were jointly responsible for paying the nearly $2 million settlement to resolve the suit.

The Plaintiffs Claim Two Parties’ Negligence Led to the Incident:

The collision was a horrific tragedy that the plaintiffs claim was due to the negligence of two other parties that day: the driver of the dump truck (along with the entity that owned the truck) and the State of New Jersey’s negligent design of that particular stretch of Route 29 (including the shoulder, clear zone, and steep drop off from the road to the grass against the roadway that feel below appropriate standards. The grieving families made it clear throughout the wrongful death lawsuit that they believed if the dump truck driver had kept his truck in its lane or if New Jersey had complied with state and federal design standards for that stretch of Route 29, both Mark and Artie would still be alive.

Mercer County Fiery Collision: The Nearly $2 Million Settlement

The nearly $2 million settlement consisted of two payments. The 1st payment was a policy limit offer from the DATLLC insurance company; the company was forced to close its business following the incident. The 2nd $950,000 payment came from the State of New Jersey. The settlement came after long, aggressive litigation.

If you have questions about filing a California wrongful death lawsuit, please contact Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in Riverside, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Lawsuit Claims Universal Orlando Roller Coaster Caused Traumatic Brain Injury

In recent news, a woman filed a lawsuit against Universal Orlando, claiming that one of their roller coasters caused a traumatic brain injury that caused serious ramifications in her life.

The Case: Geriann Erwin Clem and Richard Clem vs. Universal City Development

The Court: Orange County Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit in Florida

The Case No.: 192961708

The Plaintiff: Clems vs. Universal City Development

The plaintiffs, Geriann Erwin Clem and Richard Clem (husband), sued Universal City Development (Universal Orlando), claiming that riding one of the amusement park's roller coasters caused Geriann Erwin Clem to suffer a traumatic brain injury. According to the complaint, Geriann claims she rode Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster on Feb. 11, 2023. Available material describes the ride as reaching speeds of 65 mph and including a climb at a 90-degree angle followed by a drastic drop. According to the plaintiff, while on the ride, her head "shook violently" and "slammed into the seat's headrest" throughout the ride.

The Defendant: Clems vs. Universal City Development

The defendant, Universal City Development (Universal Orlando), is a popular amusement park in Orlando, Florida. According to the plaintiffs in the traumatic brain injury case, the park failed to provide proper restraints for their Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster and did not provide enough warning before allowing customers on the ride that their heads would be shaken and slammed against the headrest repeatedly. According to the two plaintiffs, the warning signs posted on-site at the park were inadequate.

The Case: Clems vs. Universal City Development

The plaintiffs filed the case in Orange County, and the married couple sought "personal injuries and damages" over $50,000.

If you have questions about how to file a California traumatic brain injury, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Their traumatic brain injury attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Riverside, and Los Angeles, empowering you to take action.

Boar’s Head Faces a Wrongful Death Claim Connected to Contaminated Products

Amid a Listeria outbreak, Boar's Head faces a wrongful death claim pointing to contaminated products.

The Case: Judith Adams vs. Boar's Head

The Court: Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota County, Florida

The Case No.: 209401239

The Plaintiff: Judith Adams vs. Boar's Head

The plaintiff is Judith Adams, individually and as Personal Representative de son tort of the estate of Otis T. Adams, Jr, deceased. Otis T. Adams died after allegedly consuming Listeria-contaminated Boar's Head products. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) linked the Listeria outbreak to Boar's Head Deli products. Adams' surviving family members filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked this Listeria outbreak, which has affected 59 people and resulted in 10 deaths, back to Boar's Head deli products.

The Defendant: Judith Adams vs. Boar's Head

The defendant, Boar's Head, was founded in 1905. The company is a premier provider of high-quality deli products and promotes its brand as using only the finest ingredients. Boar's Head Deli products include a wide range of meat and cheese products. The Adams vs. Boar's Head wrongful death lawsuit highlights the outbreak's severity and raises food safety concerns, but it isn't the only incident. The Boar's Head Listeria outbreak is linked to dozens of incidents, including at least ten deaths.

The Case: Judith Adams vs. Boar's Head

Judith Adams vs. Boar's Head quickly increased scrutiny of both production and distribution practices at Boar's Head and in the industry as a whole. At the same time, the CDC's findings connect the Listeria outbreak to multiple Boar's Head products, suggesting the company may have experienced multiple lapses in food safety protocols. The situation generated a spotlight on public health in connection to industry standards for contamination prevention and could have widespread ramifications on food safety and handling practices. The Adams family filed the Boar's Head wrongful death lawsuit in October 2024.

If you have questions about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw L.L.P. Experienced wrongful death attorneys can help you in any of their various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.

Trial Date Scheduled for Protestor Ashli Babbitt’s Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A federal judge assigned a trial date for the wrongful death complaint filed by the surviving family of Ashli Babbitt, the protestor who died after being shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer.

The Case: Estate of Ashli Babbitt and Aaron Babbitt (the Plaintiffs) v. United States of America

The Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

The Case No.: 3:24-cv-33-BAS-DDL

The Plaintiff: Babbitt (the Plaintiffs) v. United States of America

On January 5, 2024, the plaintiffs filed a California wrongful death lawsuit, including the following complaints: assault and battery, negligence, negligent supervision, discipline and retention, negligent training, survival, and wrongful death. A federal judge scheduled a trial date for a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of January 6 protester Ashli Babbitt.

The plaintiffs in the case are the surviving family of Ashli Babbitt, a Jan. 6th protestor who died after being shot by U.S. Capitol Police Officer Michael Byrd. The $30 million wrongful death lawsuit was originally filed in California, the home of the deceased, Ashli Babbitt, 35. Ashli Babbitt owned and operated a local pool business with her husband. She attended the “Women for America First” rally featuring Trump at the Ellipse, traveling alone from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

The Incident: Crowd of Protestors Forcing Entry to the Speaker’s Lobby

The incident that led to Babbitt’s death was an outgrowth of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters threatened to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote making Biden president. Ashli Babbitt was a member of the group of protectors trying to force entry to the Speaker’s Lobby behind the House chamber. As Ashli was edged through the window in a doorway by the crowd, Officer Byrd opened fire. The shot was fatal. Babbitt was unarmed and allegedly held her hands up as she passed through the doorway to the hallway. However, her actions did not stop the shooting.

The Case: Babbitt (the Plaintiffs) v. United States of America

According to the lawsuit, Lt. Byrd later confessed he shot Ashli before he saw her hands, assessed her intentions, or identified her gender. The complaint claims that Ashli was unarmed, with her hands in the air in plain view of Lt. Byrd and other police officers nearby. The lawsuit also indicates that Lt. Byrd was not in uniform, did not identify himself as an officer (or make his presence known to Ashli Babbitt), and did not provide any warnings or commands to Ashli before shooting her. The government investigated Byrd’s response to the situation, and he was not punished. U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes scheduled a trial date of July 20, 2026, for the Babbitt (the Plaintiffs) v. United States of America $30 million wrongful death lawsuit. The judge may also consider a request to move the case to California, where the Babbitt family lives.

If you have questions about filing a California wrongful death suit, reach out to Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw L.L.P. Experienced wrongful death attorneys are available at various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago to assist you.

Compass Group Wrongful Death Lawsuit Heads to Appellate Court

Compass Group USA, Inc. and plaintiffs claiming that negligence on the part of the facility and its workers led to wrongful death head to appellate court.

The Case: Soria v. Compass Grp. U.S.

The Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Second Division

The Case No.: B330221

The Plaintiffs: Soria v. Compass Grp. U.S.

The plaintiffs in the case, Celia Soria and Lilia Soria Trujillo, filed a wrongful death lawsuit revolving around the tragic death of Jaime Soria. The lawsuit is due to a tragedy on September 24, 2019. Jaime Soria battled spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy since birth. In September 2019, he was admitted to Antelope Valley Hospital with severe sepsis and aspiration pneumonia. Jaime was having difficulty swallowing and was placed on an NPO food restriction (nothing by mouth). However, a food tray was accidentally delivered to Jaime's hospital room. After being told it was safe, his mother fed him food from the tray. He immediately started to cough, gag, and vomit, which was aspirated into his lungs. He died two days later, and the plaintiffs claim Soria's death was due to alleged negligence by Compass Group USA.

The Defendants: Soria v. Compass Grp. U.S.

The defendants in the case are the hospital, one of its nurses, Compass Group USA, Inc. (Compass), the food and nutrition manager (contracted with the hospital), and a Compass catering associate.

The Case: Soria v. Compass Grp. U.S.

The trial court determined certain allegations of the plaintiffs' complaint constituted binding admissions on the plaintiffs, and the jury was instructed accordingly. The trial court found the plaintiffs were not entitled to punitive damages. The jury's verdict (in favor of Celia) awarded $8 million in damages. Compass filed a JNOV (motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict). They also filed a motion for a new trial. The trial court denied the JNOV motion while granting the motion for a new trial, finding that the damage award was excessive. After the Superior Court of LA County issued orders and a judgment, both parties appealed.

If you have questions about filing a California wrongful death lawsuit, don't hesitate to contact Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Discuss your situation today with one of the experienced wrongful death attorneys in our various law firm offices in Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Riverside.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Response to Boston Police Officer’s 2022 Death

After the recent death of a Boston Police Officer, his brother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer's girlfriend and two Canton area bars.

The Case: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

The Court: Plymouth Superior Court

The Case No.: 2483 CV00692

The Plaintiff: Paul O'Keefe v. C.F. McCarthy's, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

In January 2022, 16-year veteran Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe and his girlfriend, Karen Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, went barhopping at C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grill. Read dropped O'Keefe off at Brian Albert's, a fellow Boston police officer, for a party. O'Keefe was later found dead outside Albert's home. The autopsy indicated O'Keefe died of blunt force trauma and hypothermia. Prosecutors claim Read hit him with her SUV and then left the scene. Read's legal counsel claims O'Keefe was actually killed inside the home and then dragged outside. They argued that police investigators focused on Read because doing so allowed them to avoid considering other law enforcement officers as suspects. O'Keefe's brother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read, the girlfriend, and two Canton, Massachusetts bars O'Keefe visited before going to the party at Albert's.

The Defendants: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

The defendants in the case are O'Keef's girlfriend, Karen Read, who dropped him off at his fellow officer's home after they went out drinking at two local Canton bars (and allegedly hit him with her vehicle before leaving), and two Canton, Massachusetts bars: C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grill. Read claims she did not harm O'Keefe. O'Keefe's family members allege the bars served alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated person. C.F. McCarthy's denies their involvement in the death of O'Keefe.

The Case: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

O'Keefe filed the wrongful death lawsuit in August 2024 in Plymouth Superior Court. In addition to wrongful death, O'Keefe alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress.

If you have questions about filing a California wrongful death suit, reach out to Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw L.L.P. Experienced wrongful death attorneys are available at various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago to assist you.