Baldish Kaur, et al vs. Joseph Collin Pederson, et al

  • Court: Texas State, Dallas County, 160th District Court
  • Case Number: DC-21-12096
  • Filed: 31stAugust 2021
  • Judges:Aiesha Redmond
  • Case Type: Motor Vehicle Accident
  • Cause:Wrongful death

Parties Involved

Plaintiff(s):Baldish Kaur | Simran Kaur | Parmvir Singh Sarkaria | Pushpinder Kaur

Defendant(s): Joseph Collin Pederson| Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC |Oncor Electric Delivery Holdings Company

Verdict Information

  • Verdict Date: 24thApril 2024
  • Damages awarded to Plaintiff(s):$37,500,000
  1. Singh’s wife, Baldish Kaur:
  • $4,000,000 for loss of past companionship and society
  • $2,250,000 for future loss of companionship and society
  • $4,000,000 for past mental anguish
  • $2,250,000 for future mental anguish
  1. Singh’s children (Pushpinder Kaur, Simran Kaur, and Parmvir Singh) each received:
  • $1,500,000 for loss of past companionship and society
  • $1,000,000 for future loss of companionship and society
  • $1,500,000 for past mental anguish
  • $1,000,000 for future mental anguish
  1. $10,000,000 to compensate Singh for the pain and mental anguish he experienced prior to his death.

About the Truck Collision Case

Cause

On August 7, 2021, Shamsher Singh tragically lost his life in a devastating incident. At approximately 4:30 pm that fateful afternoon, Singh was conducting an inspection of his vehicle and attached trailer on the shoulder of the westbound side of IH 635 in Dallas County. Meanwhile, Joseph Collin Pederson, an employee of the Oncor defendants, was operating a white Ford F-550 truck westbound on IH 635, rapidly approaching Singh’s location.

Pederson, while carrying out his duties within the course and scope of his employment, was distracted as he approached Singh’s vehicle. He failed to apply brakes or take any evasive actions, veering to the right and colliding violently with Singh’s trailer. This collision caused catastrophic injuries to Singh, trapping him between the tire of his vehicle and the highway retaining wall. Despite efforts to save him, Singh succumbed to his injuries at approximately 5:07 pm.

Injury

In the aftermath of Singh’s untimely demise, his family members, including his wife Pushpinder Kaur and children, raised negligence claims against Pederson. These claims encompassed various failures such as the failure to maintain a proper lookout, neglecting to apply brakes, violating speed limits, driving unsafely, failing to maintain a single lane, and driving inattentively. The plaintiffs contended that the Oncor defendants bore vicarious liability for Pederson’s negligence under the respondeat superior doctrine, given his actions occurred within the course and scope of his employment.

Additionally, direct negligence claims were lodged against the Oncor defendants for negligent hiring, entrustment, supervision, retention, and training of Pederson. Furthermore, the plaintiffs asserted wrongful death claims as Singh’s statutory beneficiaries, seeking redress for the damages they sustained due to his demise under the Texas Wrongful Death Act.

 Damage

The plaintiffs petitioned the court and jury to grant them full compensation for their losses, encompassing not only financial damages but also the mental anguish, grief, and emotional suffering they endured. Moreover, they sought damages for both past and future mental anguish, the lost financial support and services from the deceased, the loss of companionship and inheritance, funeral costs, interest, legal expenses, punitive damages, and any other applicable damages from the date of the incident onward, extending into the future.

Jury Verdict

The jury found Joseph Collin Pedersen 84% responsible and Shamsher Singh 16% responsible for Singh’s death. Concerning damages, substantial sums were awarded to Singh’s wife, Baldish Kaur, for her losses: $4,000,000 for loss of past companionship and society, $2,250,000 for future loss of companionship and society, $4,000,000 for past mental anguish, and $2,250,000 for future mental anguish.

Singh’s children, Pushpinder Kaur, Simran Kaur, and Parmvir Singh, each received $1,500,000 for loss of past companionship and society, $1,000,000 for future loss of companionship and society, $1,500,000 for past mental anguish, and $1,000,000 for future mental anguish.

Furthermore, the jury determined that $10,000,000 would adequately compensate Singh for the pain and mental anguish he endured before his death. In total, the jury awarded $37,500,000 in damages to Singh’s family members and his estate.

Court Documents: Available upon request