SF Police Collision Lawsuit Settles for $80K
Table of Contents
Case Background
The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, presided over the civil lawsuit filed by private citizen Jada Navaeh Williams against the City and County of San Francisco and two of its police officers, Dikii Simpson and Lee Johnson. The action, filed under Case No. CGC-24-614172, centered on a traffic collision that allegedly occurred due to the officers’ negligence while operating a police vehicle. The litigation began in April 2024 when the Plaintiff filed the initial complaint, and the City filed its formal response, or Answer, in July 2024.
Cause
The cause of action stemmed from allegations of negligence directly related to the operation of an official motor vehicle. Ms. Williams claimed that the city employees negligently operated the vehicle during an incident that resulted in her injuries and property damage. Specifically, the complaint claimed the officers ran a red light at an intersection. Critically, the Plaintiff contended that the officers violated California Vehicle Code section 21453(a) because they failed to activate the necessary siren and emergency lights the required emergency protocol before entering and proceeding through the intersection. The failure to use these legally required warnings became the central point of the negligence claim.
Injury
Ms. Williams suffered both personal injuries and property damage as a direct result of the collision. She contended that the officers' negligent actions directly and legally caused her injuries and damages. These harms required her to seek compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, pain, suffering, and the cost of repairing or replacing her damaged property. Her claim against the government Defendants invoked the California Tort Claims Act, which permitted her to bring suit against the government and its employees for their actions.
Damages Sought
Because the accident caused significant injury and financial loss, the Plaintiff initiated the lawsuit under the Court’s unlimited jurisdiction. This category of filing indicated that the total damages Ms. Williams sought exceeded $25,000. The request included compensation for all resulting injuries and economic losses.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The lawsuit progressed rapidly after the initial filings. After Ms. Williams filed her complaint on April 24, 2024, the City and the named officers responded with their Answer on July 5, 2024. In the legal response, the City denied all the central allegations, asserting that Ms. Williams' injuries and damages did not result from any negligence on the part of the officers or the municipality. This denial established a sharp dispute over the facts and the legal responsibility for the accident.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Jada Navaeh Williams
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Darren J. Kessler
Defendant(s): City and County of San Francisco, Off. Simpson (1783), and off. Johnson (1474)
· Counsel for Defendant(s): David Chiu | Jennifer E. Choi | Samuel A. Leff
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
Ms. Williams’ attorney, Darren J. Kessler, based the lawsuit on multiple, reinforcing claims of negligence against the city employees.
The primary claim focused on Vehicle Code Violations. The Plaintiff asserted that the officers negligently drove and operated the motor vehicle when they failed to stop for a red light. The defense that the vehicle was responding to an emergency was countered by the claim that the officers had not properly used their siren and emergency lights, which made the action unlawful under the circumstances.
A secondary claim targeted Negligent Hiring and Supervision. The Plaintiff’s legal team claimed that the City and County of San Francisco negligently hired, trained, managed, and supervised its agents and employees. The result of this alleged failure, they argued, had legally and directly caused the accident, ultimately leading to Ms. Williams’ injuries and damages.
Defense
Attorneys for the City and County of San Francisco, led by the City Attorney’s office, forcefully rebutted all claims.
The City’s defense was built on a complete Denial of Negligence. The Defendants stated that they always exercised reasonable care and had not breached any duty owed to Ms. Williams. The city's legal position essentially argued that the officers acted as any reasonable person would have under similar circumstances, implicitly suggesting that the officers either maintained proper emergency protocol or that Ms. Williams was responsible for the collision.
The defense also presented a number of Affirmative Defenses. These included claims that Ms. Williams’ own negligence had contributed to the incident and that the city had not caused any harm to her. The city further asserted that any action it took was necessary and reasonable under the circumstances.
Settlement
The contentious litigation concluded quickly. Shortly after the parties exchanged the complaint and the answer, they entered into negotiations to resolve the dispute outside of a jury trial. The parties finalized the agreement, and the Court received the formal Notice of Settlement on April 15, 2025. The city agreed to settle the lawsuit with Jada Navaeh Williams for a total sum of $80,000 (Eighty Thousand Dollars). This decisive, pre-trial settlement ended the legal action and prevented a jury from hearing the evidence regarding the officers’ alleged failure to follow emergency vehicle protocol. By agreeing to pay this sum, the City concluded the matter, providing Ms. Williams compensation for the personal injuries and property damage she suffered. The negotiated resolution brought a quick closure for all parties involved and averted the time and expense of further Court proceedings.