Facts

M. Hatsushi Landscaping's landscape vehicle pulled out from a stop sign in front of plaintiff Sean Choy, who was driving his motorcycle. Witnesses said Plaintiff had no chance to avoid the truck. The same witnesses had to brake to avoid the landscape vehicle being driven by Masaru Hatsushi. The truck was carrying equipment to a landscape jobsite, as directed by Corporate officer Mori Hatsushi, at the time. Four months prior to the accident, the corporate secretary, Tomiko Hatsushi, gave the truck to Masaru and kept Masaru working despite being told that he had a bad Department of Motor Vehicle records and was excluded from commercial policies.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs claimed negligence by the landscape company and officers for retaining a bad driver and ratifying his acts after accident when Masaru delivered equipment to Kaiser and was not fired.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendants claimed Masaru was retired, no longer employed by the company, and was just returning tools.

Specials in Evidence

$450,672 $1 million

Result

Plaintiffs' verdict for $11,900,672.

Other Information

Appeal probable on Judges ruling eliminating personal liability of officers for negligent retention of employee and ratification. The alter ego trial is pending. FILING DATE: Nov. 28, 2007.

Deliberation

six days

Poll

12-0 (on employment), 11-1 (damages)

Length

15 days