Diaz v. A Better Moving: $8.7M Truck Crash Settlement
Table of Contents
Case Background
This civil litigation arose in the Superior Court of Sacramento County, where Plaintiff Ashley Diaz filed a lawsuit against A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. and Zachary Deangelis. The central dispute revolved around legal claims of negligence and negligent entrustment, as the Plaintiff sought to hold the corporation and its driver accountable for their conduct and employment practices during June 2020. In response to the filing, the Defendants formally denied every allegation, asserting that they bore no legal liability for the events in question.
Cause
The legal conflict originated from a motor vehicle collision that occurred on June 1, 2020. Ashley Diaz drove her vehicle northbound on Manzanita Avenue in Sacramento County, California. During this travel, a 2006 white truck bearing California license number 7X94162 collided with the vehicle occupied by Diaz. Diaz alleged that Zachary Deangelis operated the truck at the time of the crash and that A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. owned the vehicle. The lawsuit claimed that the Defendants operated, managed, and controlled the vehicle in a negligent manner, which proximately caused the collision.
Injury
As a direct result of the collision, Diaz reported suffering bodily injuries. The complaint detailed that these injuries resulted in both economic and non-economic harm. The specific physical impairments included physical and mental suffering, although the initial Court filings did not itemize the precise medical diagnosis. Diaz asserted that the incident caused her pain, anxiety, and emotional distress, leading to a loss of enjoyment of life.
Damages Sought
Ashley Diaz sought comprehensive financial compensation for the damages she incurred. The economic damages requested included reimbursement for past and future medical expenses, ancillary costs, and the loss of income and earning capacity. Additionally, she sought compensation for the loss of her ability to provide household services and for property damage resulting from the loss of use of her vehicle. Regarding non-economic damages, Diaz pursued compensation for her physical and mental suffering, inconvenience, and physical impairment. The lawsuit requested judgment for these damages in an amount according to proof, along with prejudgment interest and the costs of the lawsuit.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Ashley Diaz
Counsel for Plaintiff: Ryan K. Sawyer
Defendants: A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. | Zachary Deangelis
Counsel for Defendants: Mark F. Hazelwood | Jordan E. Scott
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
Ryan K. Sawyer, representing the Plaintiff, structured the lawsuit around two primary causes of action: Negligence and Negligent Entrustment.
Negligence The Plaintiff argued that the Defendants bore a duty to operate and maintain their vehicle reasonably. Sawyer contended that the Defendants breached this duty by driving the truck in an unlawful and unreasonable manner. This breach allegedly served as a substantial factor in causing the collision and the subsequent harm to Diaz. The complaint further asserted that Deangelis acted within the scope of his employment or agency with A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc., making the corporation vicariously liable for his actions.
Negligent Entrustment In the second cause of action, the Plaintiff alleged that A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. negligently entrusted the vehicle to Deangelis. The legal team argued that the company knew, or should have known, that Deangelis was incompetent or unfit to drive the vehicle yet permitted him to do so anyway. The complaint stated that this incompetence directly contributed to the accident. Furthermore, the Plaintiff claimed the company failed in its duty regarding the hiring, training, and supervision of its employee.
Defense
Mark F. Hazelwood and Jordan E. Scott, representing the Defendants, filed a formal Answer that issued a general denial of all allegations. The defense argued that the Plaintiff had not suffered injury or damage to the extent claimed and that no act or omission by the Defendants caused such harm. They presented seven affirmative defenses to counter the Plaintiff's claims.
First Affirmative Defense: Assumption of Risk The defense argued that Diaz assumed the risk of injuries or damages by engaging in the activities set forth in the complaint. They contended that this assumption of risk stood as a cause of her alleged injuries.
Second and Fourth Affirmative Defenses: Comparative Negligence Counsel for the defense asserted that Diaz was herself negligent and careless. They argued that her own negligence contributed to the accident and that any potential jury verdict in her favor must be reduced by the percentage of her own fault . They further alleged that the accident resulted solely from the negligence of the Plaintiff or third parties.
Additional Defenses
The Defendants claimed the complaint failed to state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action. They also cited the statute of limitations, arguing the claims were barred by California Code of Civil Procedure sections 335.1, 340, and 343. Finally, the defense argued that Diaz failed to mitigate her damages and asserted that any non-economic damages should be limited to the Defendants' several liability based on their degree of fault.
Settlement
Resolution of the Dispute The parties ultimately resolved the litigation without proceeding to a final jury verdict. Following the initial exchange of complaints and denials, the Plaintiff and Defendants reached a negotiated agreement to end the lawsuit.
Settlement Terms A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. and Zachary Deangelis agreed to pay a total of $8,718,418 to Ashley Diaz. This substantial sum settled all claims regarding the bodily injuries, economic losses, and non-economic suffering that Diaz had alleged in her original complaint. By agreeing to this amount, the Defendants effectively closed the case, avoiding further trial proceedings and the potential risk of a different judgment in Court. The payment addressed the comprehensive damages sought by Diaz, including her medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and physical impairment resulting from the June 2020 collision.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com