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Personal Injury
Auto v. Trailer
Wrongful Death

Felizardo Zepeda and Maria Cisneros as successors in interest to the estate of Brenda Zepeda v. Antonio Villareal, Juan Luis Robles, Richard Mendez Castro, Netto Ag and Does 1 to 20 inclusive

Published: Dec. 15, 2007 | Result Date: Feb. 12, 2007 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 06CEC00360 Settlement –  $1,500,000

Court

Fresno Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

David G. Edwards
(Law Office of David G. Edwards)


Defendant

John T. Nagel


Facts

Brenda Zepeda had stopped her sedan for a stop sign at an intersection when a tractor-trailer made a right turn at the same intersection. The truck tipped over, crushing Zepeda's car and pinning her inside it. Rescue workers were unable to extract her from the wreckage. Zepeda asked others to use her cell phone to call her brother and parents, and died after about 15 minutes. Her parents filed suit against the truck driver, Richard Castro; the truck's owners, Antonio Villareal and Juan Luis Robles; and the company that had hired the truck to haul the load it was transporting at the time of the accident, Netto Ag Inc.

Contentions

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiffs alleged that the truck had tipped over because the driver had attempted the turn while going too fast.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
The defendants claimed that the truck's load had shifted because it had only been carrying a half load, and the shift in weight had caused the truck to tip.

Injuries

Death.

Result

The parties settled for $1.5 million.


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