LA City Settles Family's Car Crash Lawsuit for $562,500
Table of Contents
Case Background
A legal dispute initiated by David and Eva Beri against the City of Los Angeles and City employee Rochelle C. Feldman concluded with a substantial settlement agreement. The Beris filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court in January 2022 after they suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident involving a City vehicle driven by Feldman. The Plaintiffs asserted that the negligence of the City employee caused the collision and their resulting physical and emotional harm. The case moved through the Court system toward a scheduled trial date in 2023, but the parties ultimately reached a resolution before a jury heard the evidence.
Cause
The Beris’ Complaint centered on a single, clear cause of action: Negligence.
Negligence of the Driver The Plaintiffs contended that Rochelle C. Feldman, who was acting within the scope of her employment for the City of Los Angeles at the time, failed to operate her vehicle safely. They asserted that Feldman's careless driving directly caused the collision with the Beris’ vehicle. As a result, the Beris claimed that Feldman breached her fundamental duty to exercise reasonable care while driving, which is the legal standard for negligence in a motor vehicle accident.
Vicarious Liability of the City Since Feldman was working for the City of Los Angeles when the accident happened, the Beris also named the City as a Defendant. They argued that the City was legally responsible, or "vicariously liable," for the negligent actions of its employee under the principle of respondeat superior. This legal theory holds an employer responsible for the wro
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