Facts

Richard Ruehle was struck on his motorcycle on the 91 freeway by a vehicle driven by a paid political campaign canvasser, Joseph Chavez, who was unlicensed. Ruehle filed a personal injury suit against Chavez, Eric Linder for Assembly 2016, and the California Republican Party, which had prioritized funding Linder's campaign as a targeted race and for broader data-gathering purposes.

PLAINTIFF CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that Defendants were in a joint enterprise and acted negligently when colliding with plaintiff, causing him catastrophic injuries. There was a triable issue of fact as to whether the voter data gathering efforts directed by the California Republican Party, through the targeted Linder Campaign and its paid canvassers, established a joint enterprise.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied the contentions.

Injuries

Plaintiff was rendered a quadriplegic by the accident.

Result

The case settled with the California Republican Party for $11 million.