Rosa Caceres, Individually and as the Successor in Interest to the Estate of Nelson Pineda vs. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a Public Corporation

Case Background

Rosa Caceres filed a wrongful death suit alleging negligence after her son passed away after being struck by an LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus while crossing the road. The case was heard before the California Superior Court, LA County. Judges Ernest M. Hiroshige, Anne Hwang, Michael E. Whitaker, Daniel M. Crowley, and Audra Mori presided over this case. [Case number: 20STCV23470]

Cause

Plaintiff Rosa Caceres, the mother and heir of the Decedent Nelson Pineda, lived in Los Angeles County, California, at the time of the incident. She resided with Pineda and depended on him financially for her basic needs. The Defendants, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and unidentified parties were a public corporation operating a bus with California License Plate Number 1478237. At the time of the incident, the bus was driven by Agustin Garcia Terrazas, an employee of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, along with other unnamed employees. On October 12, 2019, Pineda, while crossing southbound on Sunset Boulevard, was struck and fatally injured by this bus. Terrazas, who failed to maintain proper awareness, accelerated the bus and recklessly attempted to avoid hitting Pineda instead of slowing down or stopping. The Defendants, including the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority and the unidentified parties, were negligent in their ownership, maintenance, and operation of the bus. Their acti