Bakersfield jury awards $3.2 million in personal injury case

WRONGFUL DEATH AND CATASTROPHIC PERSONAL INJURY TRIAL LASTED THREE WEEKS

On Friday, February 3, 2014, a jury in Kern County Superior Court awarded the family of Ruben Rojas a gross verdict of $3.2 million ($2.8 million net) in a wrongful death and personal injury trial which lasted three weeks.

The defendant in the case was Gerardo Alann Felix Garay, who was driving a Dodge truck and trailer when it collided with the 2002 Honda Accord being driven by Mary Garcia Rojas and her husband Ruben Rojas, who was the front passenger in the car at the time of the accident. As a result, Ruben Rojas was killed and Mrs. Rojas suffered severe injuries.

“This is a tragic case including a severe injury and a wrongful death,” said attorney Ricardo Echeverria, partner at Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP. “This verdict will never replace their beloved family member, but it can help provide for their family financially and provide them some measure of closure.”

Mr. Echeverria tried the case along with Scott Howry of Young Wooldridge LLP in this action.

The case was Rojas v HFS Enterprises, Kern County Superior Court, Case No. 275244.