--- title: "Jury Awards Over $32 Million in Freeway Negligence Case" meta: "og:description": "A Los Angeles jury awarded Luis Rodriguez $32.8 million after a collision with a California Department of Insurance vehicle on the Antelope Valley Freeway." "og:title": "Jury Awards Over $32 Million in Freeway Negligence Case" description: "A Los Angeles jury awarded Luis Rodriguez $32.8 million after a collision with a California Department of Insurance vehicle on the Antelope Valley Freeway." --- February 5, 2026 # **Jury Awards Over $32 Million in Freeway Negligence Case** A Los Angeles jury awarded Luis Rodriguez $32.8 million after a collision with a California Department of Insurance vehicle on the Antelope Valley Freeway. [**Motor Vehicle Accident**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/jury-verdict/category/motor-vehicle-accident) [**Personal Injury**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/jury-verdict/category/personal-injury) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/LUIS_ALONSO.webp) Following a high-stakes trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, a jury held the State of California and a government employee responsible for a devastating 2022 freeway collision. The legal battle centered on a motor vehicle accident that left the plaintiff with permanent physical impairments and staggering medical costs. The final judgment, totaling more than $32.8 million, reflects the jury’s assessment of severe physical trauma and the lifelong loss of earning capacity suffered by the victim. ## **Case Background** This legal action reached a jury trial on March 17, 2025, in Department F47 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. The case involved a lawsuit filed by Luis Alonso Rodriguez and Nery Alexander Rodriguez against the State of California, the California Department of Insurance, and Cynthia J. Ware. The legal proceedings followed a motor vehicle incident that took place on August 17, 2022. After evaluating the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the jury reached a verdict on March 28, 2025. Judge Melvin D. Sandvig presided over the trial and signed the final judgment on April 1, 2025. ### **Cause** The cause of this litigation was a motor vehicle collision. According to the Plaintiffs, the incident occurred while they were traveling southbound on SR-14, also known as the Antelope Valley Freeway, approximately two miles south of Agua Dulce Canyon Road. The Plaintiffs alleged that the Defendants—specifically Cynthia J. Ware while acting in the course of her employment—operated a motor vehicle negligently. This negligence was cited as the legal and proximate cause of the subsequent injuries and financial damages. ### **Injury** Luis Rodriguez suffered extensive personal injuries as a direct result of the crash. The documented injuries included: - **Physical Damage**: Rodriguez sustained significant injuries that required hospital treatment and ongoing medical care. - **Noneconomic Harm**: The victim experienced physical pain, mental suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. - **Permanent Impact**: The incident led to physical impairment and disfigurement. - **Emotional Trauma**: The trial documents noted that Rodriguez suffered from grief, anxiety, humiliation, and emotional distress. ### **Damages Sought** In the original complaint, the Plaintiffs pursued several forms of compensation "according to proof". These included: - **Economic Losses**: They sought recovery for wage loss, hospital and medical expenses, and the loss of future earning capacity. - **Property Damage**: The lawsuit included claims for both property damage and the loss of use of that property. - **General Damages**: The Plaintiffs requested general compensatory damages for their overall suffering and life changes. ## **Key Arguments and Proceedings** ### **Legal Representation** **Plaintiff(s)**: Luis Alonso Rodriguez and Nery Alexander Rodriguez. - **Counsel for Plaintiff(s)**: Khail A. Parris | John Russell Pollitt - **Experts for Plaintiff(s)**: [Azadeh Farin](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Azadeh-Farin/1572044) | [Adam N. Howard](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Adam-Howard/1572045) | [Fardad Mobin](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Fardad-Mobin/1546639) | [Andrew Morris](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Andrew-Morris/1543598) | [Anthony Reading](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Anthony-Reading/1510226) | [Ricky Sarkisian](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Ricky-Sarkisian/1526876) | [Kenneth Solomon](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Kenneth-Solomon/1528093) | [Christopher Stephenson](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Christopher-Stephenson/1521926) **Defendant(s)**: State of California (via Department of Insurance) and Cynthia J. Ware. - **Counsel for Defendant(s)**: Emmons Russell James | Lucas Quintin Earle | Rob Bonta | Iveta Ovsepyan | Cheryl W. Hsu - **Experts for Defendant(s)**: [Rocco Richard Calderone](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Rocco-Calderone/1572047) | [Roman Garagulagian](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Roman-Garagulagian/1557465) | [Juan Manuel Gutierrez](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Juan-Gutierrez/1532136) | [Omid Komari](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Omid-Komari/1531513) | [Joanne Latham](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Joanne-Latham/1554896) | [Debbie Noonkester](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Debbie-Noonkester/1572049) | [Vernon B. Williams](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Vernon-Williams/1557840) ## **Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel** ### **Claims** The Plaintiffs argued that the State and its employee were liable for the accident and its catastrophic results. They asserted that the Defendants owned, operated, and entrusted the vehicle involved in the collision. The Plaintiffs claimed the resulting injuries were so severe they warranted tens of millions of dollars in medical costs and noneconomic compensation. ### **Defense** The Defendants filed a general denial, challenging every allegation in the complaint. Their primary arguments included: - **Comparative Fault**: They argued that any damages should be reduced because the Plaintiffs' own negligence contributed to the incident. - **Immunity**: The defense claimed that as a public entity and employee, they were immune from certain liabilities for discretionary acts or emergency vehicle operations. - **Statutory Limits**: They asserted that the liability of a vehicle owner is limited by law and that any judgment should be reduced by collateral source payments. ## **Jury Verdict** The jury ultimately found in favor of the Plaintiff, Luis Alonso Rodriguez. They awarded a total of $32,868,692.93. **Breakdown of the Award:** - **Past Medical Expenses**: $709,868.93 - **Future Medical Expenses**: $9,053,397.00 - **Past Loss of Earnings**: $105,427.00 - **Future Loss of Earnings**: $1,000,000.00 - **Past Noneconomic Losses**: $4,000,000.00 - **Future Noneconomic Losses**: $18,000,000.00 Court documents are available upon request at [jurimatic@exlitem.com](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/mailto:jurimatic@exlitem.com) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-over-32-million-in-freeway-negligence-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? Join our subscriber community and receive regular updates delivered straight to your inbox. It’s quick, easy, and free.