The law firm Singleton Schreiber LLP announced it has won an $11 million settlement for a client the firm says was assaulted during a "road-rage" incident.
"Singleton Schreiber attorneys John Lemon, Paul Starita and Jim Fendt won an $11.162 million jury verdict against (Dixon-based) Valley Farm Transport Inc. for a road-rage assault committed by one of the company’s drivers. The unanimous jury also found that Valley Farm was liable for punitive damages because the company approved of its driver’s malicious conduct after it had occurred," the law firm said in a statement.
The firm said part of Valley Farm's defense was that the driver was not an employee, but rather an “independent contractor.”
Valley Farm Transport could not be reached for comment.
"The jury did not decide the amount of punitive damages because the parties reached a confidential settlement shortly before the punitive-damages phase of the trial was set to begin," Singleton Schreiber stated.
“The jury’s verdict is a clear statement from this community that a trucking company cannot dodge its legal responsibility by setting up shell corporations, repeatedly hiring the same ‘independent contractors’ as drivers, and claiming no responsibility when one of those drivers seriously hurts somebody,” John Lemon, lead counsel in the case, stated.
“Our client suffered life-altering injuries from this unprovoked attack. This outcome brings him a measure of justice and affirms an important principle regarding ethical corporate behavior and responsibility,” added Paul Starita, co-counsel.
The case is Pinedo v. Valley Farm Transport Inc., FCS055719 in Solano County Superior Court.
Singleton Schreiber has offices in eight states including three in California: Sacramento, Pasadena and San Diego.
Valley Farm Transport is a bulk agricultural carrier in California, hauling such products as tomatoes, rice, walnuts, almonds, sunflower, corn, wheat, garlic, onions, pistachios, finished goods, prunes, carrots and several other commodities.
