A Los Angeles County jury has awarded $21.3 million in damages to a woman and her young son who were injured in 2016 when a tractor-trailer owned by a food distribution company slammed into the rear of their fully stopped minivan in Long Beach.
Leila Miyamoto of Long Beach sustained severe head trauma, a traumatic brain injury and chronic pain as a result of the crash, according to her attorneys, Trial Lawyers for Justice.
As a result of the jury verdict Monday, Feb. 10, the defendant, Phoenix-based Systems Services of America Inc., will be required to pay $13.2 million in costs and prejudgment interest, said Nini Wu, a spokesperson for Trial Lawyers for Justice.
The collision occurred July 18, 2016, near the intersection of East Wardlow Road and Elm Avenue in Long Beach.
Daniel Almazan was driving an 18-wheeler for Systems Services of America when he rear-ended the Toyota Sienna driven by 43-year-old Miyamoto. Her son, Jack, who was 9 years old at the time of the crash, was in the back seat.
According to Miyamoto, she had been stopped for about two minutes, waiting for traffic to clear so she could turn left when she was rear-ended by the tractor-trailer.
Miyamoto required the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator and has undergone multiple surgeries, including procedures on her neck, shoulders and lower back. Her attorneys said she also has grappled with significant emotional and psychological distress.
“It took a jury of 12 people out of the community to tell them, ‘You are 100% responsible for this,’ and Leila’s injuries are real,” said John Kawai, an attorney for Miyamoto.
During the trial, Systems Services of America’s attorneys argued Miyamoto’s injuries were less severe than she had claimed.
“The insurance companies involved in this case refused to fairly settle for eight-and-a-half years and threw many frivolous defenses at us,” said Keith Bruno, another attorney representing Miyamoto. “It didn’t work.”
Officials with Systems Services of America could not be reached for comment Tuesday to determine if the company intends to appeal the verdict.