California Partner Obtains Favorable Result in Motor Vehicle Collision Suit

Los Angeles-area Partner Ashley Morris recently prevailed in the Ventura County Superior Court, Department 20, on behalf of our corporate client and its admittedly negligent employee in a commercial motor vehicle negligence case.

In October 2018, Plaintiffs, an individual and their family member, were stopped while driving on a road waiting to turn into their residential driveway when the defendant driver struck the rear side of Plaintiff’s vehicle. The defendant driver was operating a commercial work truck and admitted to traveling at 45 mph at the time of impact. The defendant driver made defensive maneuvers but was unable to stop the rear-end collision, which resulted in damage to both vehicles.

Following the collision, Plaintiff contended that the collision resulted in their family member sustaining injuries, including an exacerbation of an underlying seizure disorder that allegedly caused the individual to develop Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a complicated neurological condition that caused a decline in the individual’s ability to walk or speak. Plaintiff asserted that the impact of the collision was substantial and made a significant final demand during trial.

At trial, our defense attorney Ashley Morris demonstrated that Plaintiff failed to provide any evidence that the collision was the proximate cause of the injured individual’s claimed damages.

Following a five-day trial and robust closing arguments, the jury agreed with our defense attorney’s argument and returned a verdict consistent with all defense positions, ruling in favor of our client.

Ashley is a trial attorney with broad exposure across various industries, including transportation, telecommunications and utilities, and entertainment. Beginning her legal career in the field of construction defects, she has established herself as an aggressive advocate in matters ranging from general liability, premises liability, wrongful death and employment.