LA County Settles 2022 Littlerock Crash Suit for $100,000
Table of Contents
Case Background
Carlos Garcia Guerra found his life upended following a serious motor vehicle collision in the Antelope Valley area of Southern California. On May 29, 2022, Guerra had been driving near the intersection of Palmdale Boulevard and 90th Street East in the city of Littlerock. During this transit, a vehicle owned by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and operated by its employee, Jeffrey Wilson, collided with him. Guerra alleged that the crash resulted directly from Wilson's failure to operate the government vehicle with reasonable care while performing his official duties. Seeking accountability for his physical pain and financial losses, Guerra filed a civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, in December 2022. The litigation targeted the driver and the public entity, asserting that the county bore responsibility for its employee's negligent actions on the road.
Cause
The legal action arose from a specific traffic incident where the Plaintiff alleged that Jeffrey Wilson had acted negligently while driving a county-owned vehicle. Guerra contended that Wilson's driving maneuvers were the legal and proximate cause of the accident. The complaint asserted that Wilson had been acting within the scope of his employment with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at the time the collision occurred.
Injury
Guerra reported a variety of serious consequences resulting from the impact. He sustained physical injuries that required immediate and ongoing medical attention. Beyond the physical trauma, the crash caused significant property damage to his vehicle and deprived him of its use. The Plaintiff also noted that the accident had deeply affected his daily life, leading to emotional distress and physical suffering.
Damages Sought
In his legal filing, Guerra sought several forms of financial relief to address his hardships. He requested compensation for his hospital bills and future medical expenses. Additionally, he claimed a loss of past wages and a reduced capacity to earn money in the future due to his injuries. Guerra also asked the Court for general damages to cover his pain and suffering, along with the costs associated with the damage to his personal property. He requested that the final amount of compensatory damages be determined "according to proof" during the trial process.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The proceedings centered on whether the county employee had adhered to standard traffic safety laws and whether the public entity could be held liable for the resulting harm.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Carlos Garcia Guerra
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Darlene Trevino | Emma York-Spaeth
Defendant(s): County of Los Angeles (sued as Los Angeles County Department of Public Works) | Jeffrey Wilson
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Patrick E. Stockalper | Anastasia K. Olano
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Guerra’s legal team argued that the public entity had entrusted a motor vehicle to an employee who then operated it in a negligent manner. They emphasized that under California law, a public entity is liable for death or injury to a person or property proximately caused by a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the operation of any motor vehicle by an employee of the public entity.
The defense, led by Patrick E. Stockalper, countered with a broad denial of all allegations. They argued that if Guerra had suffered any injuries, they resulted from his own negligence or the actions of third parties rather than Wilson's driving. The defense also suggested that the Plaintiff might have had pre-existing sensitivities or "idiosyncrasies" that contributed to his condition.
Claims
Guerra focused his lawsuit on a single primary cause of action:
Motor Vehicle Negligence: This claim alleged that the Defendants failed to use reasonable care in the operation of the vehicle, directly leading to the collision and Guerra's subsequent injuries.
Defense
The Defendants presented 22 separate affirmative defenses to contest the claim. These included:
Contributory Negligence: They argued that Guerra's own actions at the time of the accident should reduce or bar his recovery.
Governmental Immunity: The county claimed protection under various sections of the California Government Code, asserting it was immune from liability for the specific circumstances of the incident.
Failure to Mitigate: They contended that Guerra had not taken reasonable steps to minimize his damages following the accident.
Statute of Limitations: The defense argued that the claim might be barred if it was not filed within the strict timelines required for suing government entities.
Settlement
After more than two years of litigation and discovery, the parties moved toward a resolution outside of a jury trial. The Court had originally scheduled a final status conference for June 2025, but the legal teams successfully negotiated a deal before that date. On 9th April 2025, the Plaintiff filed a formal notice with the Court stating that a settlement had been reached with Settlement Amount: $100,000.
This settlement concluded the entire case against the County of Los Angeles and Jeffrey Wilson. By accepting this amount, Carlos Garcia Guerra agreed to dismiss his claims in exchange for the guaranteed payment, avoiding the risks and delays of a Courtroom verdict. The agreement effectively closed the chapter on the 2022 Littlerock collision, providing Guerra with the funds to cover his medical debts and other losses resulting from the accident.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com