Palmdale Wrongful Death Suit Nears Settlement
Table of Contents
Case Background
On March 8, 2024, 56-year-old Vanessa Marie Taylor drove her Ford Focus westbound on State Route 18 near Palmdale. James Michael Wolfe, operating a Dodge Ram ProMaster van for his employers, Adapthealth, LLC and Verio Healthcare, Inc., veered across the solid line. His van collided head-on with Taylor’s vehicle. She died from the crash. Her daughter, Kai Ratliff, as successor-in-interest, filed this wrongful death lawsuit.
Cause
Wolfe allegedly drove recklessly while in the course of employment. Plaintiff claimed he was fatigued, distracted, and reached for an energy drink before the crash. He crossed into oncoming traffic, striking Taylor’s vehicle. Plaintiff argued Adapthealth, Verio, and other unnamed defendants bore responsibility for employing Wolfe, entrusting him with the van, and failing to prevent unsafe conduct. She also claimed they acted in concert and condoned his reckless driving, making them jointly liable.
Injury
Taylor suffered traumatic injuries, pain, and mental anguish before her death. She endured terror, anxiety, and unconsciousness from the collision. Ratliff, as her surviving heir, claimed loss of her mother’s love, comfort, companionship, support, and guidance. She also alleged financial loss from Taylor’s death, including future support and contributions.
Damages
Plaintiff sought damages for non-economic loss, pre-death pain and suffering, funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, and property loss. She requested compensation for lost earnings, prejudgment and pretrial interest, and all other appropriate relief.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Kai Ratliff, individually and as Successor-in-Interest to the Estate of Vanessa Marie Taylor
Counsel for Plaintiff: Robert S. Glassman
Defendant(s): AdaptHealth LLC | Verio Healthcare Inc. | James Michael Wolfe
Counsel for Defendants: Scott Stephen Blackstone
Claims
First Cause of Action – Wrongful Death (Negligence): Plaintiff alleged all defendants, including Wolfe, Adapthealth, Verio, and Does 1–10, negligently owned, managed, entrusted, and operated the Dodge Ram ProMaster. Their reckless and unlawful conduct directly caused Taylor’s fatal injuries and Ratliff’s losses.
Defense
The defendants filed a general denial under California Code of Civil Procedure §431.30(d), rejecting all allegations in the complaint and disputing any liability for the alleged injuries and damages. They further raised multiple affirmative defenses, asserting that the complaint failed to state a cause of action, that the decedent’s own negligence and failure to use a seatbelt contributed to her injuries, and that third parties or unavoidable circumstances were the actual causes.
They also claimed defenses based on comparative negligence, apportionment of fault, statute of limitations, failure to mitigate damages, assumption of risk, and workers’ compensation setoff. Additional defenses included Proposition 51 (limiting liability for non-economic damages), Proposition 213 (barring recovery of non-economic damages in certain circumstances), waiver, estoppel, laches, pre-existing medical conditions, compliance with the applicable standard of care, imminent peril, and lack of responsibility for unidentified Doe defendants. The defendants reserved the right to assert further defenses as discovery progresses.
Settlement
The Los Angeles Superior Court scheduled an Order to Show Cause hearing re: dismissal (settlement) for August 27, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Department A15 at the Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse. The court directed that unless a dismissal is filed at least five court days before the hearing or good cause is shown, the case may be dismissed under California Rules of Court, rule 3.1385. On April 8, 2025, the court clerk mailed notice of this order to counsel for both parties, Robert S. Glassman of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and Scott S. Blackstone of the Law Offices of John A. Hauser.
Court Documents
Court documents are available for purchase upon request at Jurimatic@exlitem.com