Singleton Schreiber, LLP, Wins $11.162 Million Jury Verdict and Confidential Settlement for Client Assaulted by Truck Driver Hired by Valley Farm Transport
Fairfield, CA — Singleton Schreiber attorneys John Lemon, Paul Starita, and Jim Fendt won an $11.162 million jury verdict against 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,
Valley Farm insisted throughout the case that it bore no responsibility whatsoever for the assault because the company’s driver was an “independent contractor” and not an employee of the company.
The unanimous jury reached a different conclusion, finding that Valley Farm’s driver – who had been driving the same routes for the company for at least six years – was an “employee or agent” of the company, that he was acting within the scope of his employment when he committed the assault, and that Valley Farm approved of its driver’s conduct after being notified that it had occurred. The jury also awarded $11.162 million for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering to the plaintiff, who was seriously injured in the attack.
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.
“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,” said John Lemon, lead counsel for Mr. Pinedo.
“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 (Solano County Superior Court).
Singleton Schreiber is committed to advocating for individuals injured as the result of commercial-trucking negligence, intentional wrongdoing, and employer misconduct.
About Singleton Schreiber
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, environmental law, insurance bad faith, and sex abuse/trafficking. Over the last decade, the firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients who have been harmed.
