--- title: "Cedric Taite Negligence Case Settles for $3M" meta: "og:description": "Cedric Taite settled a negligence lawsuit for $3M after a 2019 freeway crash involving Omar Penaloza and JJ Kane Associates in Los Angeles." "og:title": "Cedric Taite Negligence Case Settles for $3M" description: "Cedric Taite settled a negligence lawsuit for $3M after a 2019 freeway crash involving Omar Penaloza and JJ Kane Associates in Los Angeles." --- September 15, 2025 # **Cedric Taite Negligence Case Settles for $3M** Cedric Taite settled a negligence lawsuit for $3M after a 2019 freeway crash involving Omar Penaloza and JJ Kane Associates in Los Angeles. [**Auto Negligence**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/jury-verdict/category/auto-negligence) ### **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/default_1.webp) Plaintiff Cedric Taite brought a negligence action after a December 2019 freeway collision in South El Monte. He alleged Defendants Omar Penaloza, J.J. Associates Inc., and J.J. Kane Associates Inc. operated and entrusted a vehicle negligently, causing serious injuries and financial losses. Defendants denied liability and raised multiple defenses, including comparative negligence and assumption of risk. The case settled unconditionally on April 25, 2025, for $3,000,000, avoiding a scheduled May 27, 2025 trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. ### Case Background On December 30, 2019, Plaintiff Cedric Taite drove westbound on the SR-60 Freeway in South El Monte, California. Defendant Omar Penaloza operated a vehicle owned and controlled by Defendants, including J.J. Associates, Inc. Plaintiff alleged the vehicle was entrusted and maintained with the Defendants’ permission and consent. ### Cause Defendants allegedly drove, operated, and controlled the vehicle in a negligent, careless, and reckless manner. Plaintiff claimed this conduct caused the Defendant’s vehicle to collide with his car. He further alleged Defendants failed in their duty to operate and manage the vehicle safely, which directly and proximately led to the crash. ### Injury Plaintiff sustained injuries to his health, strength, and nervous system. He reported physical and emotional pain, suffering, and distress. His injuries limited his daily activities and caused ongoing discomfort. ### Damages Plaintiff claimed general damages for pain and suffering. He sought compensation for medical costs already incurred and expected in the future. He also claimed loss of earnings and diminished earning capacity. Additionally, he alleged property damage, including loss of use of his vehicle. ## Key Arguments and Proceedings ### **Legal Representation** - **Plaintiff(s):** Cedric Taite - **Counsel for Plaintiff:** Hagop Jack Bazerkanian | Robert Samuel Glassman - **Experts for Plaintiff:** [Arthur C. Croft](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Arthur-Croft/1520799) | [Jan Roughan](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Mary-Roughan/1512450) - **Defendant(s):** J.J. Kane Associates Inc. | J.J. Associates Inc. | Omar Penaloza - **Counsel for Defendants:** Michael Edwin Jenkins - **Experts for Defendant:**[Stephen Martin Werner](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Stephen-Werner/1515522) | [Gregory H. Tchejeyan](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Gregory-Tchejeyan/1568127) ### Claims Plaintiff asserted a single cause of action: Negligence against all Defendants. He requested general and special damages, prejudgment interest, pretrial interest, costs of suit, and any relief the Court deemed proper. He also demanded a jury trial. ### Defense Defendants filed general denials to all allegations and to all damages. They asserted that no negligent act by any Defendant caused Plaintiff’s losses. They also requested a jury trial. Moreover, they argued the Complaint failed to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Defendants raised several affirmative defenses. They alleged Plaintiff’s comparative negligence and failure to use ordinary care reduced or barred recovery. They asserted primary and secondary assumption of risk. They claimed Plaintiff failed to mitigate damages. They alleged other persons or entities caused some or all losses, warranting comparative fault allocation. They invoked Proposition 213 (Civ. Code §3333.4) to bar certain non-economic damages if applicable. Finally, they cited Proposition 51 (C.C.P. §1431.1 et seq.) to limit joint and several liability for non-economic damages. ### Settlement On April 25, 2025, the parties reached an unconditional settlement. Plaintiff Cedric Taite, represented by Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP and C&B Law Group LLP, resolved his negligence claims against Defendants Omar Penaloza and JJ Kane and Associates Inc. for **$3,000,000**. A Notice of Settlement of Entire Case was filed on May 23, 2025, confirming dismissal of the matter before the scheduled May 27, 2025, trial in Department 28 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. ## **Court Documents** Court documents are available for purchase upon request at [jurimatic@exlitem.com](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/mailto:jurimatic@exlitem.com) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/cedric-taite-negligence-case-settles-for-3m/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? 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