$7.5M for Wrongful Death in Prison, Poor Working Conditions Net $450K, and Rampant Police Abuse

California’s May News Round-Up Features Police Torture, Children Killed by Drunk Drivers, and Violence on LA Buses

In this edition of our May 2024 personal injury roundup, we feature stories about California accidents that occurred in different areas. First, we highlight a significant increase in the number of assaults throughout the state. As we will see below, there have been multiple cases of assaults in public places, such as buses or shootings in downtown Los Angeles. There have also been a few assaults involving celebrities.

However, one of the most controversial cases of violence has come from the police. This time, the city of Fontana has had to pay nearly $900K to a victim of police misconduct. According to the lawsuit, officers inflicted psychological torture to coerce false confessions with a high “level of cruelty.”

On the other hand, in addition to another month with numerous fatalities due to vehicle collisions, May was also marked by other transportation accidents. The most notorious incident involved extreme turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight. It resulted in the death of a 73-year-old man and the injury of 71 passengers.

Meanwhile, the families of Marines killed in a California air crash two years ago have filed a lawsuit. In particular, they are suing Boeing and other manufacturers, alleging that the design of the Osprey aircraft was defective and failed to meet national safety standards.

Finally, about 55 people were injured in a Metro train accident in Southern California. Two people were rushed to the hospital after the train collided with a USC bus. In addition, a woman was awarded $8.5 million in damages after she was hit by a train while sitting in a police car.

California Personal Injury News Highlights for May 2024

In this post, we will share the latest news about personal injury in California in May 2024. This month has witnessed a very high number of assaults. This includes from fatal shootings, to physical violence on buses, to attacks on celebrities, and excessive use of force by police, among others. There has also been an increase in the number of traffic collisions – especially pedestrian accidents involving minors.

Also, companies like Ford and Tesla have made headlines for recalls of some of their models. Certain cars like those from Elon Musk’s company do not meet federal safety requirements.

Read on to learn more about personal injury cases in California.

If you feel you’ve been in a similar situation, don’t hesitate to seek legal help. We can assist you in obtaining the financial compensation you deserve for your losses by calling (800) 310-1606.

LA Metro Bus Violence and Shooting Spree

Practice Area: Assault

As we have mentioned before, the Golden State is experiencing a real nightmare in the form of assaults. California has suffered numerous cases of injury both in May and throughout 2024 so far. This month in particular, there have been altercations on public transportation such as the Los Angeles Metro bus system. In fact, two violent incidents were reported on the same day.

In the first, a woman assaulted a bus driver. Police are searching for a female suspect who aggressively ripped the driver’s glasses off her face before getting off the bus.

In the second attack, which occurred hours later, a man was stabbed in another violent incident. The nighttime stabbing occurred specifically at a bus stop and left the victim with severe lacerations.

Although these two incidents only resulted in injuries, there are other cases that ended in death. A teacher riding a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles was shot and killed while sitting on the bus. Police, who arrested the suspect shortly thereafter, claim that this deadly crime was unprovoked and a random attack.

The shootings are part of a series of attacks in California that have spread fear among residents. Some of the most notable cases that have contributed to this crime wave include:

• Three men are charged with intimidating and violently threatening several Southern California residents at gunpoint.
• A 27-year-old woman is shot and killed by two gunmen at an Oakland gas station.
• A Fremont man faces assault and robbery charges after attacking a man he met on Grindr.

Evidence of Diddy’s Assault on Cassie, Steve Buscemi Gets Punched in the Face, and Johnny Wactor Shot Dead in LA

One of the most viral stories of the past month involves Sean “Diddy” Combs. Despite defending his innocence when allegations of sex crimes came to light, CNN has released evidence of an assault against his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The video, recorded by cameras at the Century City InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, shows the artist kicking and shoving Ventura.

On the other hand, actor Steve Buscemi was the victim of a violent attack. The suspect, who punched the artist in the face after assaulting another person, will be charged with third-degree assault.

Returning to the wave of violence, actor Johnny Wactor was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles. According to police reports, the 37-year-old General Hospital actor was trying to stop thieves from stealing his car’s catalytic converter when he was fatally shot.

Wrongful Deaths for Police Assaults

Practice Area: Police Misconduct

Speaking of violence, a Glendale police officer has been charged with a felony. The officer, Gonzalo Zendejas, kicked a minor in the head after suspecting him of robbing a Dick’s store. Another case of excessive use of force by police has resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit. A judge has upheld a financial settlement for the family of George Robinson, the fatal victim of a police beating. The man died of a brain hemorrhage days after several officers pulled him from his car and brutally beat him.

In a similar case, a jail death lawsuit was settled for $7.5 million after an internal investigation upheld the victim’s family’s allegations. According to videos of the incident, police forcibly entered the cell of a delusional inmate. Officers used pepper spray canisters to enter, tied him down with a rope, and electrocuted him after covering his head. As a result of these actions, the prisoner stopped breathing for five minutes. The victim died of cardiac arrest days later.

Lastly, an internal police investigation is underway into the interrogation methods used on some individuals. In fact, the city of Fontana has settled a $900K compensation to the victim of police misconduct. The lawsuit alleged that police officers “psychologically tortured” Perez Jr. using cruel methods to coerce false confessions.

$1.3M for Home Depot Negligence and $450K to Workers for Poor Working Conditions

Practice Area: Premises Liability

The violence on the streets of California is also affecting many stores and restaurants. The latest establishment to experience problems was a McDonald’s drive-through in East Los Angeles. An elderly couple was violently attacked by a homeless man as they went to order food. The assault left the elderly woman with serious injuries.

In addition, Home Depot must pay $1.3 million for fire code violations. The investigation was launched after an arson fire destroyed a San Jose store and polluted the air for residents in surrounding neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed by victims of a shooting at Half Moon Bay Farms led to a federal investigation. Following the reported death and injury of some workers in a shooting, the Department of Labor investigated the working conditions of employees at the California farm in May 2024. The agency found “sickening conditions” that prompted the company to offer compensation. In total, the owners of California Terra Garden will have to pay more than $450K in damages.

Barstow Unified School District Awards $2.38M to Sexual Assault Victim

Practice Area: Sexual Harassment or Abuse

A former UC Santa Cruz employee is suing the university for sexual harassment, sexual assault, and retaliation. Jocelyn Fredell claims she was sexually assaulted by Joshua Solis, another employee, and that the university failed to take action. The lawsuit alleges that UC Santa Cruz even placed Solis on a panel that decided her continued employment at the university after she reported the incident.

Separately, Mark Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Windsor winery Bricoleur Vineyards, is being sued by his sister for sexual assault. Hilary McKeann claims her brother sexually abused her for six years when they were children. McKeann, who filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court, is seeking damages for sexual abuse that took place in the 1970s. The alleged victim says she suffers from depression, stress, anxiety, and physical scarring as a result of the abuse.

In another disturbing case of sexual abuse in schools, the Barstow Unified School District will pay $2.38 million to a victim who was assaulted by a teacher in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse scandals are more common than ever. Thanks to the new AB 218 law, victims of sex crimes have up to 40 years to file a lawsuit. Indeed, Redlands Unified has already paid out more than $45 million in settlements to resolve sexual allegations against teachers in the district.

Finally, the Sean “Diddy” Combs case seems to have paved the way for more celebrity sex victims to come forward. Recently, producer The-Dream was again accused of sex crimes in another lawsuit. The suit, filed by Channii Monroe, accuses the producer of rape, sexual battery and sex trafficking.

Dozens Killed on California Roads

Practice Area: Traffic Accidents

California has seen many motor vehicle accident injury victims during May 2024. One of the worst accidents was a head-on collision in Brentwood that injured 7 people. Another head-on crash occurred in San Jose when a driver drove the wrong way on Highway 101 and fatally struck a truck.

There was also a multi-vehicle crash involving seven vehicles on Highway 17 due to the negligence of a Santa Cruz Metro bus. The driver failed to brake in time at a traffic light and rear-ended the vehicles in front of the bus. Four people were injured.

On the other hand, a news story that affected the Bay Area was the death of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood in a traffic accident. The former East Bay leaders were two of four people killed in an incident on Highway 76. Apparently, one of the cars was distracted and swerved into the oncoming lane, causing a fatal accident.

Scooters have also been involved in accidents. A scooter rider died after being hit by two different drivers in San Jose. A few days later, a 17-year-old scooter rider was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Long Beach.

This was not the only hit-and-run accident. Two people were seriously injured after a pickup truck struck them at the Walnut Creek Farmers Market and fled the scene. Finally, another pedestrian was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver in South Los Angeles.

Bakersfield is The Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians

Following up on the previous topic, there have been many pedestrian accidents in the state again this month. However, California has a particular problem with pedestrian safety in Bakersfield. A new report has revealed that the city is the most dangerous for pedestrians in the state. In fact, in just two days, two people were injured in Oildale after being hit by a motorcycle.

As for drunk driving accidents, there were again dozens of fatalities. One of the deaths was a woman working at a Tesla factory who a drunk driver hit. A paramedic in Alameda County was also killed by a DUI driver on her way to work.

Unfortunately, impaired driving has also claimed the lives of two minors. An 11-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in a collision in Cupertino. The same drunk driver also hit three other children, ages 7, 8, and 4. In another crash caused by a drunk driver, a 14-year-old girl was fatally struck in Newport Beach.

Risk of Burns in Pajamas and E. Coli in Walmart Ground Beef

Practice Area: Product Liability

One of the defective products that poses a risk of injury is the SKIMS children’s pajama set. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 1,000 pieces of clothing have been recalled due to burn hazards. In addition, several class-action lawsuits have been filed against Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration energy drinks and KSI. Documents allege that these products contain PFAS and excessive caffeine.

In food industry news, Walmart was the latest grocery chain to have contamination problems with some of its products. Cargill Meat Solutions recalled more than 16,000 pounds of ground beef due to the risk of E. coli.

Recalls by Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, and Tesla

In the motor sector, several automotive companies have also had incidents with their vehicles:

• Ford is recalling more than 243,000 Maverick vans for possible taillight failures. The company has also notified that nearly 110,000 Lincoln Aviator vehicles need to be subject to a recall. According to investigations, using a phone while the vehicle is reversing causes electromagnetic interference that causes rearview camera image failures.
• Some 102,000 Toyota Tundras and Lexus LX are being recalled. As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), engine debris can affect vehicle power loss.
• Nearly 15,000 Mercedes electric vehicles have safety issues with the battery management system. Software on EQE and EQS models could fail and cause an unexpected motor shutdown.
• Tesla has again reported another incident in some of their cars. More than 125,000 automobiles of different models have to be inspected. The company reported a malfunction of the seat belt warning system. According to official reports, some Tesla models do not meet federal safety requirements. This would increase the risks of injury in case of an accident.

Have You Suffered an Injury Accident in California During May 2024? Call Us!

At Adamson Ahdoot, we believe in justice for victims injured in negligent accidents. Whether you suffered sexual abuse on the job, neck pain from a car accident, or injuries on premises, you have the right to sue. As you have seen, victims can get the compensation they deserve when they build a strong case.

With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our bilingual law firm specializes in obtaining successful settlements. Adamson Ahdoot has handled injury cases for hundreds of accident victims throughout California. Based in Los Angeles, our injury attorneys provide services across the state.

Contact us for a free consultation to evaluate your case in detail and discuss your legal options. Our professionals are available 24/7. We will handle your case with the sensitivity and care you deserve. Call us today at (800) 310-1606 or submit your request online. We can help you file your personal injury claim today.. We can help you file your personal injury claim today.