Snowstorm Crash With Edison Vehicle: Fresno Jury Returns $5.75 Million

During a snowstorm, a Southern California Edison driver, Alejandro Luquin, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a vehicle occupied by Manuel Ornelas. The impact was severe enough to fracture Ornelas' pelvis and cause serious damage to his lumbar spine.

After the crash, Ornelas was left in constant pain, dependent on a cane to walk, unable to sit for extended periods, and without normal bowel control. He could not lift his children. His wife Corina and their two minor daughters, Nicole and Danielle, were also named plaintiffs, Corina for loss of consortium and the daughters through their mother as guardian ad litem.

Southern California Edison did not contest that Luquin caused the accident. The company admitted liability and carried unlimited insurance. The fight at trial was entirely about what those injuries were worth. According to Richard Watters of Miles, Sears & Eanni, the Fresno firm founded in 1956, Edison made no serious offer before jury selection began. Watters tried the case with co-counsel Patrick D. Toole of Jones Helsley PC.

Watters was prepared to try the case fully. He later described being 'bothered a gigantic corporation like this can push people around,' and noted that Edison had forced the family through a complete jury trial before making an offer 'in the ballpark.' When Edison put $5 million on the table after jury selection started, Watters turned it down. The injuries, the lost income, and the permanent changes to family life pointed to a higher number.

On March 1, 2011, the Fresno County jury returned its verdict in case 09 CE CG 02744 DSB. The jury awarded Manuel $5,544,380.15, covering past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Corina received $202,246.98 on her consortium claim. The combined total of $5,746,627 exceeded the refused offer by roughly $746,000. No post-trial reduction of the verdict has been reported in the published case record.