Facts

On Dec. 25, 2003, heavy rains fell in the San Bernardino Mountains causing a wall of mud, uprooted trees, and boulders to crash down and rip through St. Sophia Camp and Retreat Center. Just two months earlier, the area was scorched in a massive wildfire. The debris ripped through the St. Sophia camp, knocking buildings off of its foundations and fatally crushing and sweeping away 14 men, women, and children.

Family members of the deceased sued the church in 2004, which was settled for $13 million. The church then sued Caltrans for indemnification.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
The church sought reimbursement of a portion of the settlement contending that the agency's maintenance and construction of the nearby State Route 18 created an unnatural water flow of water and debris that made the disaster even worse.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The agency denied that construction on Route 18 was the cause of the natural disaster.

Result

The agency was ordered to pay 31 percent of the original plaintiffs' economic damages, or about $1 million, to the church. The jury previously found Caltrans 31 percent responsible for the debris-filled wall of mud that crashed down on the camp due to the way the agency maintained and built the nearby highway.

Other Information

FILING DATE: 2004.