“Statutes may be borrowed 26 in the negligence context for one of two purposes: (1) to establish a duty of care, or (2) to 27 establish a standard of care.”
How later courts described this case
- “Statutes may be borrowed 26 in the negligence context for one of two purposes: (1) to establish a duty of care, or (2) to 27 establish a standard of care.”
- “An enactment does not create a mandatory duty if it 10 merely recites legislative goals and policies that must be implemented through a public 11 agency’s exercise of discretion.”
- “Whether the dangerous condition 19 was obvious and whether it existed for a sufficient period of time are threshold elements to 20 establish a claim of constructive notice.”
- “Conclusory, speculative 3 testimony in affidavits and moving papers is insufficient to raise genuine issues of fact and 4 defeat summary judgment.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
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3
4
5
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 LARISSA ARAUJO (SURVIVAL Case No.: 20-cv-01800-AJB-RBM
ACTION), et al.,
12
ORDER:
Plaintiffs,
13
v. (1) GRANTING COACHELLA
14
VALLEY WATER DISTRICT’S
COACHELLA VALLEY WATER
15 MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT
DISTRICT; THE COUNTY OF
OPINIONS OF DR. DAVID
16 IMPERIAL; JOSUE GONZALEZ; and
FRACTOR;
DOES 1 TO 25, inclusive,
17
Defendants. (2) GRANTING IN PART AND
18
COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DENYING IN PART THE
19 DISTRICT, COUNTY’S MOTION TO EXCLUDE
EXPERT OPINIONS OF DR. ILENE
20 Cross-Complainant,
ZACKOWITZ;
21 v.
(3) DENYING THE COUNTY’S
22
ANDRE DOS-SANTOS DE-SA, an MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT
23 individual; COUNTY OF IMPERIAL, a OPINIONS OF DAVID CASTEEL
Public Entity; and DOES 1-10, inclusive, AND ROBERT THOMPSON;
24
25 Cross-Defendants. (4) GRANTING THE COUNTY’S
MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT
26
OPINIONS OF EDWARD RUZAK;
27
(5) DENYING THE COUNTY’S
28
1 MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT
OPINIONS OF REZA MARSHAL;
2
3 (6) DENYING PLAINTIFFS’
MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE
4
KIMLEY-HORN STUDY; AND
5
(7) GRANTING IN PART AND
6
DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFFS’
7 PARTIAL MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
8
9
(Doc. Nos. 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109,
10 110)
11
Presently before the Court are several motions to exclude expert opinions and
12
studies, (Doc. Nos. 103–107, 110), and Plaintiffs’ Larissa Araujo (Survival Action), Jose
13
Carlos De Araujo, Helenilza Maria Oliveira De Araujo, Andressa Dos Santos (Survival
14
Action), Renato Dos Santos, and Maria Tereza De Carvalho’s (“Plaintiffs”) motion for
15
partial summary judgment, (Doc. No. 109). These motions are suitable for determination
16
on the papers and without oral argument in accordance with Local Civil Rule 7.1.d.1.
17
Accordingly, the Court hereby VACATES the hearing currently set for September 15,
18
2022 at 2:00 p.m. As set forth below, the Court GRANTS Coachella Valley Water
19
District’s (“CVWD”) motion to exclude Fractor, GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN
20
PART the County’s motion to exclude Zackowitz, DENIES the County’s motion to
21
exclude Casteel, Thompson, and Marshal, GRANTS the County’s motion to exclude
22
Ruzak, DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion to exclude the Kimley-Horn study, and GRANTS IN
23
PART AND DENIES IN PART Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment.
24
I. BACKGROUND
25
This action arises out of a tragic accident that occurred in unincorporated Imperial
26
County. On October 2, 2019, Cross-Defendant Andre Dos Santos De-Sa was driving a
27
Hyundai Elantra when he, along with Plaintiffs Larissa Araujo and Andressa Dos Santos,
28
1 were involved in a two-car, broadside collision with a van driven by Defendant Josue
2 Gonzalez, an employee of Defendant CVWD. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 9.) The automobile
3 accident resulted in the deaths of Larissa Araujo and Andressa Dos Santos. (Id. at 10.)
4 At the time of the collision, Defendant Gonzalez was driving a Ford E350 Super
5 Duty van southbound on English Road, while Plaintiffs were heading westbound on
6 Schrimpf Road. (Id. at 9.) Where these two roads intersect, both English Road and
7 Schrimpf Road are unpaved, graded dirt roads. (Id. at 8.) There were no stop signs or other
8 traffic controls to indicate an intersection was approaching. (Id. at 10.) Thus, English Road
9 and Schrimpf Road were two perpendicular roads that intersected without any controls
10 regulating cross-traffic. (Id.) At the time of the collision, there were no posted speed limit
11 signs at this intersection. (Id.) Thus, pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 22349(b), the
12 speed limit was 55 mph. (Id. at 11.)
13 Approximately 73 feet northeast of the intersection, there is a dirt berm
14 approximately five feet high. (Doc. No. 115 at 6.) While Mr. De-Sa was driving west on
15 Schrimpf, the dirt berm was to his right/north, while the berm was to Defendant Gonzalez’s
16 left/east as he drove south. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 11.) In 2014, this berm was designed and
17 constructed by Imperial Irrigation District (“IID”) as part of its Managed Marsh Complex,
18 Phase 2. (Doc. No. 115 at 6.)
19 In the 5 seconds before the collision, Mr. De-Sa’s Hyundai was traveling at 56 mph.
20 (Id.) From 4 to 2 seconds before the collision, the Hyundai slowed from 55 mph to 47 mph.
21 (Id.) Then, in the 1.5 seconds to 1 second before the collision, the Hyundai was traveling
22 46 mph. (Id.) Meanwhile, Defendant Gonzalez’s Ford maintained a constant speed between
23 59.0 and 60.9 mph and never slowed or activated its brakes before the collision. (Id.) Mr.
24 De-Sa’s Hyundai entered the intersection first and was thereafter hit by Defendant
25 Gonzalez’s Ford. (Id.)
26 On October 15, 2021, the County filed a motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No.
27 59.) On January 14, 2022, the Court denied the County’s motion. (Doc. No. 93.) Plaintiffs
28 filed the instant partial motion for summary judgment on May 9, 2022. (Doc. No. 109.)
1 Defendants County of San Diego and Josue Gonzalez and CVWD responded in opposition.
2 (Doc. Nos. 117, 115.) The County, CVWD, and Plaintiffs have also each filed several
3 motions to exclude expert opinions and studies. (Doc. Nos. 103–07, 110.) This order
4 follows.
5 II. MOTIONS TO EXCLUDE
6 A. Legal Standard
7 Federal Rule of Evidence 702 governs the admissibility of expert testimony.
8 Pursuant to Rule 702,
9 [a] witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience,
training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:
10
(a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help
11 the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue; (b)
the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; (c) the testimony is the
12
product of reliable principles and methods; and (d) the expert has reliably
13 applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.
14
Fed. R. Evid. 702. “The party offering the expert bears the burden of establishing that Rule
15
702 is satisfied.” Sundance Image Tech., Inc. v. Cone Editions Press, Ltd., No. 02 CV 2258
16
JM (AJB), 2007 WL 935703, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 7, 2007).
17
Prior to admitting expert testimony, the trial court “must make a preliminary
18
assessment of whether the testimony’s underlying reasoning or methodology is
19
scientifically valid and properly can be applied to the facts at issue.” Daubert v. Merrell
20
Dow Pharms., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 592–93 (1993). The trial court acts as a “gatekeeper” by
21
making a preliminary determination of whether the expert’s proposed testimony is not only
22
relevant but reliable. Estate of Barabin v. AstenJohnson, Inc., 740 F.3d 457, 463 (9th Cir.
23
2014). This two-step assessment requires consideration of whether (1) the reasoning or
24
methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid (the reliability prong); and
25
(2) whether the reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts in issue (the
26
relevance prong). Daubert, 509 U.S. at 592–93; Kennedy v. Collagen Corp., 161 F.3d
27
1226, 1228 (9th Cir. 1998).
28
1 A district court has broad latitude in deciding how to measure reliability and in
2 making the ultimate reliability determination. Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S.
3 137, 142 (1999). In essence, the court must determine whether the expert’s work product
4 amounts to “good science.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593. In Daubert, the Supreme Court
5 outlined factors relevant to the reliability prong, including (1) whether the theory can be
6 and has been tested; (2) whether it has been subjected to peer review; (3) the known or
7 potential rate of error; and (4) whether the theory or methodology employed is generally
8 accepted in the relevant scientific community. Id. at 593–94. As later confirmed in Kumho
9 Tire, “Daubert’s list of specific factors neither necessarily nor exclusively applies to all
10 experts or in every case. Rather, the law grants a district court the same broad latitude when
11 it decides how to determine reliability as it enjoys in respect to its ultimate reliability
12 determination.” 526 U.S. at 141–42.
13 Under the relevance or “fit” prong, the testimony must be “‘relevant to the task at
14 hand,’ i.e., that it logically advances a material aspect of the proposing party’s case.”
15 Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. (“Daubert II”), 43 F.3d 1311, 1315 (9th Cir. 1995)
16 (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 597). Relevance requires opinions that would assist the trier
17 of fact in reaching a conclusion necessary to the case. See Kennedy, 161 F.3d at 1230. In
18 general, the Daubert analysis focuses on the principles and methodology underlying an
19 expert’s testimony, not on the expert’s ultimate conclusions. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 595.
20 However, the Supreme Court has cautioned that “conclusions and methodology are not
21 entirely distinct from one another.” Gen. Elec. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136, 146 (1997). As
22 such, “[a] court may conclude that there is simply too great an analytical gap between the
23 data and the opinion proffered.” Id.
24 B. Discussion
25 1. Dr. David Fractor
26 CVWD moves to exclude the opinion testimony of Plaintiffs’ expert economist,
27 David Fractor, Ph. D, and his reports regarding future lost earnings of the two decedents in
28 this case, Larissa Araujo and Andressa Dos Santos (collectively, “Decedents”). (Doc. No.
1 103.) CVWD asserts the opinions are inadmissible because they are not relevant under
2 Federal Rule of Evidence 401(b), they lack foundation and are not based on reliable
3 evidence or sufficient facts or data, and they violate the standard for admission of expert
4 testimony under Daubert. (Id. at 2.)
5 i. Reliability
6 First, CVWD argues Dr. Fractor’s opinions are unreliable under the first prong of
7 the Daubert analysis because the assumptions he used in both Scenarios 1 and 2 of his
8 Expert Report were given to him by counsel. (Doc. No. 103 at 10.) Having reviewed Dr.
9 Fractor’s report and deposition as well as the parties’ arguments, the Court agrees with
10 CVWD’s assessment.
11 At the time of her passing, Ms. Araujo was 28 years old and had recently finished
12 her university studies in International Relations at Faculdade ESAMC in Brazil. (Doc. No.
13 103-1 at 39.) According to Ms. Araujo’s own writings of her future plans, she applied to
14 the Au Pair exchange program in the United States to improve her English and continue
15 her international relations studies. (Id.) She further wrote she “need[ed] to be fluent in
16 English to get a job at an international company in my country [of Brazil].” (Id.)
17 Ms. Dos Santos was 26 years old when the instant collision occurred and had
18 completed her undergraduate studies in Advertising and Marketing at Universidade
19 Paulista – UNIP in Brazil. (Id. at 53.) Similarly, Ms. Dos Santos wrote in her APC2018
20 Application that she hoped to use the English she learned during the Au Pair exchange
21 program to help her find a job “in my city” “[a]fter I return to my country [of Brazil] . . .
22 .” (Id. at 55.) Both women were Au Pairs in the United States through a two-year exchange
23 program at the time of their passing (Id. at 37.) Plaintiffs have not submitted any evidence
24 that either Decedent paid anything to their respective heirs by way of financial support.
25 (See generally Doc. No. 120.)
26 In his report, Dr. Fractor assumed Ms. Araujo intended on pursuing a career as an
27 executive assistant in New York, commencing January 1, 2022. (Id. at 4.) Dr. Fractor
28 ultimately opines that Ms. Araujo’s parents experienced a loss of Ms. Araujo’s future
1 earnings of $3,543,212. (Id.) Similarly, Dr. Fractor assumed Ms. Dos Santos intended on
2 pursing a career as an advertising analyst in New York, where Ms. Dos Santos’ parents
3 ultimately experienced a loss of her future earnings of $3,260,797. (Id. at 5.) The Court can
4 find no factual basis for these assumptions.
5 Dr. Fractor states his assumptions that Ms. Araujo intended to pursue a career as an
6 executive assistant in New York was provided by counsel, and that he was not provided
7 with any discovery from the case which indicated Ms. Araujo intended to pursue such a
8 career in New York. (Doc. No. 103 at 7 (citing Deposition of David Fractor, Doc. No. 103-
9 1, at 82).) Dr. Fractor further stated the assumptions regarding Ms. Dos Santos were
10 “exactly the same as for Ms. Larissa [Araujo].” (Id.) Although Scenario 2 of Dr. Fractor’s
11 report were based on “United States averages without concern for the specific life events
12 which [CVWD] challenges as speculative[,]” (Doc. No. 120 at 11), there is again no
13 evidence that either Decedent intended on remaining in the United States after their
14 positions as Au Pairs ended.
15 As such, without any underlying support for his conclusions, Dr. Fractor’s report is
16 “unsupported speculation” and must be excluded. See Daubert, 509 U.S. at 590.
17 ii. Relevance
18 Even if Dr. Fractor’s opinions were found to be reliable, CVWD contends that in
19 survival actions by the deceased plaintiff’s estate, damages are prescribed by California
20 Code of Civil Procedure § 377.34(a) and must be narrowly limited to “the loss or damage
21 that the decedent sustained or incurred before death,” which by definition excludes future
22 damages. Plaintiffs respond this is true for survival actions, but that they have also filed a
23 wrongful death action under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, in which
24 Plaintiffs’ future financial benefits, lost due to Decedents’ deaths, is a well-established
25 aspect of damages. (Doc. No. 120 at 8.) CVWD responds that damages for wrongful death
26 are measured by the financial benefit the heirs were receiving at the time of death, or those
27 reasonably to be expected in the future. (Doc. No. 126 at 3.) Thus, asserts CVWD, Dr.
28 Fractor’s expert opinions are irrelevant because the statutory language excludes speculative
1 future lost earnings for employment positions the Decedents did not hold at the time of
2 their death and that is not supported by evidence. (Id. at 2.)
3 A wrongful death claim is a state law statutory claim that compensates specified
4 heirs of the decedent for losses suffered as a result of the decedent’s death. LAOSD
5 Asbestos Cases, 28 Cal. App. 5th 862, 872 (2018). “Under California Code of Civil
6 Procedure [§] 377.61, damages for wrongful death are measured by the financial benefits
7 the heirs were receiving at the time of death, those reasonably to be expected in the future,
8 and the monetary equivalent of loss of comfort, society, and protection.” Boeken v. Philip
9 Morris USA Inc., 217 Cal. App. 4th 992, 997 (2013) (internal citations and quotations
10 omitted).
11 Here, the Court finds Dr. Fractor’s opinions are irrelevant under the standard set
12 forth in Daubert. Although a plaintiff may indeed recover damages for future financial
13 benefits, they must be “reasonably . . . expected in the future.” Cal. Code Civ. Proc.
14 § 377.61. As discussed above, Dr. Fractor’s report fails to have underlying factual support
15 for his opinions regarding the future financial earnings of Ms. Araujo and Ms. Dos Santos.
16 As such, the damages calculated by Dr. Fractor are not reasonably expected in the future,
17 nor were they measured by the financial benefits that Plaintiffs (the parents of the
18 Decedents) were receiving at the time of Decedents’ deaths. See Griffey v. Pacific Elec.
19 Ry. Co., 58 Cal. App. 509, 517 (1922). In fact, Plaintiffs fail to offer any factual evidence
20 that Plaintiffs would have received any financial support, gifts, or benefits from their
21 children, had they survived. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS CVWD’s motion to exclude
22 Mr. Fractor’s testimony.
23 2. Dr. Ilene Zackowitz
24 The County next moves to exclude specified opinions of Plaintiffs’ human factors
25 expert, Dr. Ilene Zackowitz, Ph. D., as follows:
26 1. That, prior to the instant collision, the County should have installed stop signs
27 or other “positive guidance” or signage at the approaching intersection; and
28 2. That the County, prior to the collision, failed to perform traffic studies
1 concerning the intersection.
2 (Doc. No. 104.) The County asserts its motion is on the grounds that Dr. Zackowitz lacks
3 scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge regarding these matters, has failed to
4 base such opinions on sufficient facts or data, and failed to reliably apply relevant
5 principles to the facts of this case. (Id. at 2.) Plaintiffs respond that the County’s motion
6 should be denied because this is not a proper basis for exclusion, but rather a basis for
7 cross-examination. (Doc. No. 119 at 6–7.)
8 Regarding Dr. Zackowitz’s opinion that the County should have installed positive
9 guidance regarding the approaching intersection, Plaintiffs argue Dr. Zackowitz is
10 qualified to testify about human factors, such as the requirement of positive guidance in
11 order for motorists to anticipate forthcoming hazards. (Id. at 8–9.) Plaintiffs maintain Dr.
12 Zackowitz is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (“HFES”), the
13 Forensics Professional Group of HFES, of which she was the chairperson from 2016 to
14 2018, and the Safety and Technical Group of HFES. (Id. at 7.) Further, Dr. Zackowitz has
15 been employed as a senior human factors and safety consultant since at least 1998. (Id.)
16 Moreover, Plaintiffs concede Dr. Zackowitz is not a traffic engineer, nor has performed
17 any traffic engineering analysis to inform her opinions. (Id. at 11.) Rather, Plaintiffs argue
18 Dr. Zackowitz is testifying as to the impact of traffic signage on humans and how it informs
19 drivers and impacts their decision-making, rather than basing her opinions on traffic
20 engineering. (Id.)
21 Plaintiffs offer Dr. Zackowitz’s opinion as to whether the subject intersection
22 provided adequate positive guidance to Mr. Andre Dos Santos De-Sa (“De-Sa”) to indicate
23 the presence of the intersection or the approaching van. Moreover, her opinions are based
24 on her experience, training, education, and review of materials relevant to the accident. The
25 Court finds Dr. Zackowitz’s testimony regarding positive guidance will assist the jury. As
26 such, the Court DENIES the County’s motion on this basis.
27 Next, the County moves to exclude Dr. Zackowitz’s opinion that the “incident was
28 foreseeable due to the poor management of the hazard: failure to perform a traffic study . .
1 . .” (Doc. No. 104-1 at 5 (citing Doc. No. 104-2 at 22).) Again, Dr. Zackowitz and Plaintiffs
2 concede that the question of whether a traffic study at an intersection is warranted by a
3 public agency is outside of Dr. Zackowitz’s expertise. (Doc. No. 119 at 12.) Plaintiffs
4 maintain she does not intend to testify in this regard at trial. (Id.) Thus, the Court GRANTS
5 the County’s motion to exclude Dr. Zackowitz’s opinion that a traffic study was warranted
6 by a public agency for the subject intersection.
7 3. David Casteel and Robert Thompson
8 The County also moves to exclude specified opinions of Cross-Defendant De-Sa’s
9 accident reconstruction and human factors experts, David Casteel and Robert Thompson.
10 (Doc. No. 105.) Specifically, the County seeks exclusion of Casteel and Thompson’s
11 collaborative opinion regarding sightline and visibility obstruction from each respective
12 driver’s position, as they allegedly failed to consider the actual eye height of either driver
13 in evaluating the extent of any berm-related sight obstruction. (Doc. No. 105-1 at 2.)
14 Mr. Casteel, who has decades of experience with reconstructing complex motor
15 vehicle accidents, was retained by De-Sa to perform an accident reconstruction of the
16 subject collision. (Doc. No. 116 at 3.) To prepare their opinions, Casteel Reconstruction
17 conducted a site inspection of the subject intersection, performed a FARO scan of the area
18 during the inspection, conducted an inspection of the Ford van involved in the collision,
19 analyzed the crash data for the Ford van and Hyundai Elantra, and reviewed and relied
20 upon the relevant police reports and depositions. (Id.) The County does not challenge the
21 qualifications of Mr. Casteel or Mr. Thompson as experts in their fields. (Doc. No. 133 at
22 1.)
23 In conducting their collaborative expert report opinions, neither Casteel nor
24 Thompson considered the actual eye height of either driver in evaluating the extent of any
25 berm-related sight obstruction. (Doc. No. 105-1 at 2.) Rather, they either referenced what
26 Casteel could personally see during his personal inspection while standing on one of the
27 intersecting roadways, outside of a vehicle, or relied on a default eye height setting in a
28 computer program used for their simulation. (Id.) For the two drivers’ view simulations,
1 Casteel and Thompson used the PC-Crash program, which placed the camera in the middle
2 of the headrest. (Doc. No. 116 at 4.) Because the exact eye height of each driver could not
3 be determined, Casteel Reconstruction used approximate eye heights for each driver, as
4 did all other accident reconstruction experts in this case. (Id. at 7–8.) Mr. Casteel further
5 testified that regarding Mr. Gonzalez’s approximate eye height, he “used a standing height
6 of five-foot-eight with the person at or near 150 pounds and looked at the approximate
7 height that that would result in a person seated in a van for establishing the – the line-of-
8 sight portion of the simulation.” (Id. at 8 (citing Deposition of David Casteel (“Casteel
9 Depo.”), Doc. No. 116-1, at 73).) In simulating Mr. De-Sa’s approximate eye height, Mr.
10 Casteel testified he “used 3.5 [feet] for a passenger vehicle of that size, of the Hyundai
11 Elantra. To determine the approximate eye height, it’s going to be . . . within a range. The
12 3.5 is going to be very close.” (Id. (citing Casteel Depo at 74).)
13 Although the reconstruction evidence may be imperfect, the evidence meets the
14 threshold for admissibility, which does not require identical conditions. The County will
15 have an opportunity to challenge the evidence through aggressive cross-examination, and
16 the jury can decide how much weight to give it. Accordingly, the County’s motion as to
17 Mr. Casteel and Mr. Thompson is DENIED.
18 4. Edward Ruzak
19 Next, the County moves to exclude specified opinions of CVWD’s retained traffic
20 engineering expert, Edward Ruzak, as follows:
21 1. That every intersection in the County should be stop controlled by default;
22 and
23 2. That the intersection of Schrimpf Road and English Road was in a dangerous
24 condition on October 2, 2019, because it was not stop controlled.
25 (Doc. No. 106.)
26 Regarding Mr. Ruzak’s first contested opinion, the County contends Mr. Ruzak
27 failed to conduct a professional analysis in determining whether the County should have
28 installed stop signs at every County intersection, but rather used his own subjective
1 standard. (Doc. No. 106-1 at 2.) To this point, the County asserts that “Mr. Ruzak concedes
2 that his opinion is exactly the opposite of the standard set by the Manual on Uniform Traffic
3 Control Devices [(“MUTCD”)][,]” which the County asserts is the applicable professional
4 standard. (Id. at 4.) The MUTCD “is published by the State of California, Caltrans and is
5 issued to adopt uniform standards and specifications for all official traffic control devices
6 in California, in accordance with Section 21400 of the California Vehicle Code[.]” (Doc.
7 No. 106-2 at 27.)
8 CVWD first clarifies that Mr. Ruzak never opined that every intersection in the
9 County should be stop controlled by default. (Doc. No. 114 at 4.) Rather, Mr. Ruzak stated
10 that although he personally believed every intersection should be stop controlled, “I don’t
11 think I can say yes [that every one of these intersections is incorrectly engineered] . . . but
12 I think that there’s a definite necessity for these tully [sic] counties to basically look at
13 some of these locations and determine whether they need to put some positive guidance
14 there, i.e. stop controls.” (Id. at 4–5 (citing Deposition of Edward Ruzak (“Ruzak Depo.”),
15 Doc. No. 114-2, at 5–6).) CVWD additionally counters that Mr. Ruzak’s opinions are
16 admissible because they were based on his specialized knowledge and skill and are helpful
17 to the trier of fact. (Doc. No. 114 at 10.) CVWD further asserts Mr. Ruzak’s opinions were
18 based on sufficient data and facts, as he relied on both AASHTO standards and the
19 AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (the “Green Book”).
20 Upon reviewing Mr. Ruzak’s expert report and deposition, the Court finds Mr.
21 Ruzak did not rely upon an objective source to show he followed the scientific method
22 practiced by a recognized minority of scientists in his field. Rather, Mr. Ruzak admitted
23 his opinion deviated from the standard set out in the MUTCD, and rather than relying upon
24 AASHTO standards or the Green Book, Mr. Ruzak merely states that every intersection in
25 the County should be stop controlled by default “unless the agency did a study, even a
26 simple, informal study, and use guidelines such as AASHTO to determine if there are sight
27 lines available for all directions and no problems.” (Ruzak Depo. at 6–7.) However, neither
28 Mr. Ruzak nor CVWD indicate that Mr. Ruzak’s recommendation of conducting a study
1 to determine the necessity for signage for each intersection in the County is generally
2 accepted in the relevant scientific community. While Mr. Ruzak may have the experience
3 and knowledge to show more than mere speculation, he failed to do so. “[E]ven a
4 supremely qualified expert cannot waltz into the courtroom and render opinions unless
5 those opinions are based upon some recognized scientific method.” Timm v. Goodyear
6 Dunlop Tires N. Am., Ltd., 932 F.3d 986, 994 (7th Cir. 2019) (internal quotation marks
7 omitted). Thus, the Court GRANTS the County’s motion to exclude Mr. Ruzak’s opinion
8 that every intersection in the County should be stop controlled by default.
9 The Court next turns to Mr. Ruzak’s second opinion that the County should have
10 installed stop controls at the intersection of Schrimpf Road and English Road prior to
11 October 2, 2019. The County asserts Mr. Ruzak reached this conclusion by applying his
12 own “default rule” that every intersection should be stop controlled, as discussed above.
13 (Doc. No. 106-1 at 4.) The County argues the MUTCD is the applicable standard for the
14 subject intersection, which provides three factors that traffic engineers must consider in
15 determining whether or not to install stop controls at a given intersection. (Id. at 8.) These
16 factors are: (1) whether traffic volume at the intersection exceeds 6,000 vehicles per day;
17 (2) whether a restricted view exists that requires road users to stop in order to adequately
18 observe conflicting traffic; and (3) whether 3 or more crashes occurred at the subject
19 intersection in a 12-month period which could have been corrected by the installation of
20 stop controls. (Id. (citing Doc. No. 106-2 at 29).)
21 Mr. Ruzak acknowledges that stop controls were not required at the subject
22 intersection under the standards set forth in the MUTCD. (Id. at 8–9.) However, without
23 analyzing the subject intersection, Mr. Ruzak opines that stop controls were warranted
24 there. Mr. Ruzak has never been to the subject intersection, has not conducted
25 measurements of the physical dimensions of the intersection, and has not relied on anyone
26 else’s measurements of the intersection. (Id. at 9.) Based on the foregoing, the Court finds
27 Mr. Ruzak’s testimony is not the product of reliable principles and methods, and has not
28 reliably applied any reliable principles and methods to the facts of the case. Mr. Ruzak’s
1 conclusion that the County should have installed stop controls at the intersection of
2 Schrimpf Road and English Road appears to be based on speculation and conjecture, rather
3 than sufficient facts and data. The Court thus GRANTS the County’s motion to exclude
4 Mr. Ruzak’s opinion that the intersection of Schrimpf Road and English Road was in a
5 dangerous condition on October 2, 2019, because it was not stop controlled.
6 5. Reza Marshal
7 The County moves to exclude specified opinions of Plaintiffs’ retained traffic
8 engineering expert, Reza Marshal. Specifically, the County seeks to exclude the following
9 opinions:
10 1. That the County of Imperial had notice that the berm north of Schrimpf Road
11 existed and constituted a dangerous condition prior to October 2, 2019; and
12 2. That the berm created a dangerous condition on Schrimpf and English Roads
13 by limiting the intersection sight distance to a distance shorter than that prescribed by the
14 AASHTO Green Book.
15 (Doc. No. 107 at 2.)
16 The County argues that stating it had notice of the berm prior to October 2, 2019 is
17 speculative and “pure conjecture,” as Mr. Marshal admitted he was not provided
18 information in this case to indicate that any County employee was ever aware of the berm
19 or ever observed anything unsafe at the subject intersection. (Doc. No. 107-1 at 5–7.) The
20 County further points to Mr. Marshal’s testimony that County employees would have
21 noticed the berm while they performed “blading” maintenance on the subject unpaved
22 roads, though Mr. Marshal admitted he is unfamiliar with how blading operations work,
23 what type of equipment is used for blading, how high the blading equipment operators sit
24 above the surface of the roadway, or what the blading operators are trained to look at while
25 operating blading equipment. (Id. at 6–7.) Plaintiffs respond, and the Court agrees, that Mr.
26 Marshal’s notice opinion may be based on constructive notice as opposed to actual notice,
27 and that Mr. Marshal has cited to evidence of constructive notice to support his opinion.
28 (Doc. No. 118 at 9–10.) Plaintiffs assert this opinion is based on Mr. Marshal’s review of
1 testimony and his own personal observation during his visit of the subject intersection. (Id.)
2 Although the County asserts Mr. Marshal did not timely disclose opinions bearing
3 on constructive notice, (Doc. No. 132 at 4), the Court finds this argument without merit.
4 Mr. Marshal’s expert report does not specify whether his opinion was specific to actual or
5 constructive notice. (See Doc. No. 107-2 at 24.) Rather, Mr. Marshal merely states it is his
6 opinion “that the County of Imperial had notice of the dangerous condition prior to the
7 subject collision.” (Id.) As such, Mr. Marshal may testify as to this specific opinion. As
8 Plaintiffs have correctly argued, the County is welcome to address any alleged analytical
9 deficiencies in Mr. Marshal’s testimony through cross-examination, its presentation of
10 evidence, and through the opinions of its own expert.
11 The County argues further that Mr. Marshal’s second disputed opinion on the need
12 for traffic control devices, which is based on the AASHTO Green Book standards, should
13 be precluded because the standards applicable to the subject intersection is provided in the
14 AASHTO Guidelines for Geometric Design of Low-Volume Roads. (Doc. No. 107-1 at 8–
15 9.) Experts may demonstrate the scientific validity of a theory or technique by showing
16 that “the research and analysis supporting the proffered conclusions have been subjected
17 to normal scientific scrutiny through peer review and publication.” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at
18 1318. Testifying experts may alternatively show the validity of their theory by explaining
19 “precisely how [the experts] went about reaching their conclusions and point[ing] to some
20 objective source—a learned treatise, the policy statement of a professional association, a
21 published article in a reputable scientific journal or the like—to show that they have
22 followed the scientific method, as it is practiced by (at least) a recognized minority of
23 scientists in their field.” Domingo ex rel. Domingo v. T.K., 289 F.3d 600, 605–06 (9th Cir.
24 2002) (quoting Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1319) (alterations in original).
25 Here, Mr. Marshal’s opinions are based on the AASHTO Green Book standards,
26 which is relied upon by the California Department of Transportation for many standards.
27 (Doc. No. 118 at 14; see also Declaration of Reza Marshal (“Marshal Decl.”), Doc. No.
28 81-7, ¶ 7(a)(iv).) The Court finds Mr. Marshal relies upon an objective source to show he
1 has followed the scientific method practiced by a recognized minority of scientists in his
2 field. Additionally, the County does not offer any expert testimony in support of their
3 motion to exclude Mr. Marshal’s testimony. (See generally Doc. No. 107.) Moreover, as
4 asserted by Plaintiffs, the County’s own traffic engineer, Mr. Rock Miller, testified at his
5 deposition that the Green Book—the same guidelines used by Mr. Marshal—would have
6 been applicable at the time of the incident. (Doc. No. 118 at 16; see also Deposition of
7 Rock Miller, Doc. No. 118-8, at 3–4.) For these reasons, the Court DENIES the County’s
8 motion to exclude Mr. Marshal’s testimony.
9 6. The Kimley-Horn Study
10 Next, Plaintiffs move to exclude any reference to the County’s submitted Kimley-
11 Horn speed study on the basis that it suffers from several flaws that renders the study
12 inadmissible under Rule 702 and Daubert. (Doc. No. 110-1 at 5.) Specifically, Plaintiffs
13 contend the study did not collect enough data and was conducted after the roadway signage
14 had been changed subsequent to the collision at issue, rendering the study invalid. (Id. at
15 2.) Specifically, the Kimley-Horn study only measured vehicles north- and south-bound
16 for two hours in two locations, obtaining data for only 9 vehicles’ speeds at the first location
17 and 22 vehicles’ speeds at the second location. (Id. at 3.) Also, the Kimley-Horn study did
18 not determine the statistical significance of the sample it measured. (Id.) However,
19 “[c]ourts regularly find that concerns that a survey’s sample size is too small or
20 unrepresentative do not preclude its admission, but go to the weight to be accorded the
21 survey results.” In re ConAgra Foods, Inc., 90 F. Supp. 3d 919, 951 (C.D. Cal. 2015)
22 (citing Southland Sod Farms v. Stover Seed Co., 108 F.3d 1134, 1143 n.8 (9th Cir. 1997)).
23 Plaintiffs also assert they challenge the accuracy and reliability of the Kimley-Horn
24 speed study in its entirety. (Doc. No. 125 at 5.) Plaintiffs rely upon Mr. Reza Marshal’s
25 testimony that the Kimley-Horn survey data was not valid. (Id.) However, Plaintiffs’
26 basis—and Mr. Marshal’s—for challenging the study’s accuracy is its sample size. For
27 example, Mr. Marshal testified, “I don’t believe the speed survey that they conducted is
28 valid. . . . [b]ecause the number of vehicles that speed survey is supposed to take a survey
1 of in order to conduct a valid study would have to be a minimum of 100 and in no case less
2 than 50.” (Plaintiffs’ Deposition of Reza Marshal, Doc. No. 110-4, at 4.) Accordingly, the
3 Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion on this basis.
4 Next, the County asserts the Kimley-Horn study was one of two traffic analyses
5 commissioned by the County in late 2019, after two collisions occurred at the intersection
6 of Schrimpf and English Roads in the span of a few weeks—including the instant collision.
7 (Doc. No. 121 at 2.)1 As a result of staff analysis, the Department of Public Works installed
8 two-way stop signs at four intersections along the English corridor, including the subject
9 intersection. (Id. at 2–3.) The County asserts the Kimley-Horn analysis served in tandem
10 with the staff analysis, “providing a more in-depth assessment of the English Road corridor,
11 its collision history, and the ways in which vehicles typically travel through it.” (Id. at 3.)
12 The County asserts that because the two corridor studies are part-and-parcel of a
13 subsequent remedial measure, all evidence of the corridor studies should be precluded. (Id.)
14 However, the County appears to move to exclude unidentified evidence in its opposition
15 to Plaintiffs’ motion, and the Court lacks sufficient information at this juncture to rule on
16 the County’s request. As such, the Court defers ruling on the County’s request until
17 motions in limine are later filed.
18 III. MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
19 A. Legal Standard
20 A court may grant summary judgment when it is demonstrated that there exists no
21 genuine dispute as to any material fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment
22 as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144,
23 157 (1970). The party seeking summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing a
24
25
1 The County requests judicial notice of Imperial County Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 2019-203.
26 (Doc. No. 121-2 at 1.) Federal Rule of Evidence 201 states a court may “judicially notice a fact that is not
subject to reasonable dispute because it: (1) is generally known within the trial court’s territorial
27 jurisdiction; or (2) can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot
reasonably be questioned.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(b). Because the Court does not rely on these documents in
28
1 court of the basis for its motion and of identifying the portions of the declarations,
2 pleadings, and discovery that demonstrate an absence of a genuine dispute of material fact.
3 See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). A fact is “material” if it might
4 affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby,
5 Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248–49 (1986). A dispute is “genuine” as to a material fact if there is
6 sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the nonmoving party. See
7 Long v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006).
8 Where the moving party will have the burden of proof on an issue at trial, the movant
9 must affirmatively demonstrate that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the
10 movant. See Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir. 2007). Where
11 the nonmoving party will have the burden of proof on an issue at trial, the movant may
12 prevail by presenting evidence that negates an essential element of the nonmoving party’s
13 claim or by merely pointing out that there is an absence of evidence to support an essential
14 element of the nonmoving party’s claim. See Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Cos.,
15 210 F.3d 1099, 1102–03 (9th Cir. 2000). If a moving party fails to carry its burden of
16 production, then “the nonmoving party has no obligation to produce anything, even if the
17 nonmoving party would have the ultimate burden of persuasion at trial.” Id. If the moving
18 party meets its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that
19 a genuine dispute as to any material fact actually exists. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v.
20 Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). The opposing party cannot “rest upon the
21 mere allegations or denials of the adverse party’s pleading but must instead produce
22 evidence that sets forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” See
23 Estate of Tucker, 515 F.3d 1019, 1030 (9th Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks,
24 alterations, and citation omitted).
25 The evidence of the opposing party is to be believed, and all reasonable inferences
26 that may be drawn from the facts placed before a court must be drawn in favor of the
27 opposing party. See Stegall v. Citadel Broad. Co., 350 F.3d 1061, 1065 (9th Cir. 2003).
28 However, “[b]ald assertions that genuine issues of material fact exist are insufficient.” See
1 Galen v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 477 F.3d 652, 658 (9th Cir. 2007); see also Day v. Sears
2 Holdings Corp., 930 F. Supp. 2d 1146, 1159 (C.D. Cal. 2013) (“Conclusory, speculative
3 testimony in affidavits and moving papers is insufficient to raise genuine issues of fact and
4 defeat summary judgment.”). Further, a motion for summary judgment may not be defeated
5 by evidence that is “merely colorable, or is not significantly probative . . . .” See Anderson,
6 477 U.S. at 249–50 (citations omitted); see also Hardage v. CBS Broad. Inc., 427 F.3d
7 1177, 1183 (9th Cir. 2006) (same). If the nonmoving party fails to produce evidence
8 sufficient to create a genuine dispute of material fact, the moving party is entitled to
9 summary judgment. See Nissan Fire & Marine, 210 F.3d at 1103.
10 B. Discussion
11 Plaintiffs move for partial summary judgment as follows:
12 1. Against CVWD on the claim that it was vicariously liable for Defendant
13 Gonzalez’s negligence as Gonzalez was in the course and scope of his employment with
14 CVWD at the time of the collision;
15 2. Against CVWD and Gonzalez on the claim they were negligent and their
16 negligence was a legal/proximate cause of Plaintiffs’ deaths and damages;
17 3. Against CVWD, Gonzalez, County of Imperial, Cross-Defendant Andre Dos-
18 Santos De-Sa, and Third-Party Defendant IID on the claim that Plaintiffs were not
19 comparatively negligent and at fault for their injuries;
20 4. Against CVWD, Gonzalez, County, and IID on the claim that De-Sa was not
21 comparatively negligent and at fault for Plaintiffs’ injuries;
22 5. Against County on the claim that County owned and maintained the subject
23 intersection;
24 6. Against County and IID on the claim that the intersection was in a dangerous
25 condition; and
26 7. Against County on the claim that County had sufficient notice of the
27 dangerous condition prior to the instant collision to reasonably remedy the dangerous
28 condition.
1 (Doc. No. 109 at 2–3.)
2 1. Vicarious Liability Claim Against CVWD
3 Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer may be held vicariously
4 liable for torts committed by an employee within the scope of employment. Mary M. v.
5 City of Los Angeles, 54 Cal. 3d 202, 208 (1991).
6 Without conceding negligence, CVWD does not dispute that its employee,
7 Defendant Josue Gonzalez, was within the course and scope of his employment at the time
8 of the instant accident. (Doc. No. 115 at 4.) Thus, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion
9 for partial summary judgment that CVWD is vicariously liable for Gonzalez’s alleged
10 negligence if said negligence is proven at trial.
11 2. Negligence Claim Against CVWD & Gonzalez
12 Plaintiffs next move for partial summary judgment on their claim that Defendants
13 CVWD and Gonzalez were negligent, under the theory of negligence per se, in violating
14 California Vehicle Code § 22349(a) by driving in excess of the speed limit. (Doc. No. 109-
15 1 at 14.) Gonzalez and CVWD respond that there is a disputed question of fact as to whether
16 Vehicle Code § 22349 applies here due to lack of signage, and if so, whether such was the
17 proximate cause of the accident. (Doc. No. 115 at 9.) CVWD and Gonzalez further contend
18 there are multiple questions of fact regarding the cause or causes of the accident, including
19 lack of traffic controls, lack of signage, obstructed sight lines, and the presence of the berm.
20 (Id. at 10.)
21 i. Whether California Vehicle Code § 22349 Applies
22 “Evidence Code section 669 codifies the common law doctrine of negligence per se,
23 under which statutes and regulations may be used to establish duties and standards of care
24 in negligence actions . . . .” Millard v. Biosources, Inc., 156 Cal. App. 4th 1338, 1350
25 (2007); see Elsner v. Uveges, 34 Cal. 4th 915, 927 n.8 (2004) (“Statutes may be borrowed
26 in the negligence context for one of two purposes: (1) to establish a duty of care, or (2) to
27 establish a standard of care.”) The doctrine is not a separate cause of action. Millard, 156
28 Cal. App. 4th at 1353 n.2.
1 Negligence per se is a theory of negligence that raises a presumption of negligence.
2 Ramirez v. Plough, Inc., 6 Cal. 4th 539, 547 (1993). “[N]egligence per se is not a separate
3 cause of action, but creates an evidentiary presumption that affects the standard of care in
4 a cause of action for negligence.” Johnson v. Honeywell Int’l, Inc., 179 Cal. App. 4th 549,
5 555 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). To plead a cause of action for negligence
6 per se, the plaintiff must allege: (1) defendant violated a statute, ordinance or regulation;
7 (2) the violation proximately caused death or injury to plaintiff; (3) such death or injury
8 was of the kind that the statute, ordinance or regulation was designed to prevent; and (4) the
9 plaintiff belonged to the class of persons for whose protection the statute, ordinance or
10 regulation was adopted. See Cal. Evid. Code § 669(a); Iversen v. Cal. Vill. Homeowners
11 Assn., 194 Cal. App. 4th 107, 114 (2011).
12 Here, Plaintiffs rely on Vehicle Code § 22349(b) to establish negligence per se,
13 which states: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may drive a vehicle
14 upon a two-lane, undivided highway at a speed greater than 55 miles per hour unless that
15 highway, or portion thereof, has been posted for a higher speed by the Department of
16 Transportation or appropriate local agency . . . .” It is undisputed that Gonzalez violated
17 § 22349(b) at the time of the instant accident, wherein Gonzalez’s vehicle “increased from
18 59 miles an hour to 60.9 miles an hour” in the 5 seconds prior to the collision. (Doc. No.
19 109-1 at 16; see generally Doc. No. 115.)
20 CVWD and Gonzalez assert it is a disputed question of fact whether § 22349 applies
21 here due to the lack of signage at the intersection of English Road and Schrimpf Road.
22 (Doc. No. 115 at 9.) Specifically, CVWD and Gonzalez argue negligence per se does not
23 apply because the California State Legislature “clearly set forth its intent that there be
24 adequate warnings and signage that gives guidance to drivers so that when such warnings
25 are ignored, a violation of the default speed limit occurs.” (Id. at 10.) In support, CVWD
26 and Gonzalez point to subdivision (c), which states, “[i]t is the intent of the Legislature that
27 there be reasonable signing on affected two-lane, undivided highways described in
28 subdivision (b) in continuing the 55 miles-per-hour speed limit, including placing signs at
1 county boundaries to the extent possible, and at other appropriate locations.” Cal. Veh.
2 Code § 22349(c). However, “the existence of reasonable signing [is] not an element of the
3 speeding infraction under Vehicle Code section 22349, subdivision (b).” People v. Rebosio,
4 E074494, 2022 WL 702914, at *10 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 9, 2022); see Kamal v. Farber,
5 B269077, 2016 WL 5929917, at *4 (Cal. Ct. App. Oct. 12, 2016) (finding § 22349(c) “is
6 an empowering statute, and the manner in which that power is exercised is a matter for
7 discretionary decisions” and does “not mandatorily command [public works employees] to
8 erect signs at any particular locations”); see also Cnty of Los Angeles v. Superior Court,
9 102 Cal. App. 4th 627, 639 (2002) (“An enactment does not create a mandatory duty if it
10 merely recites legislative goals and policies that must be implemented through a public
11 agency’s exercise of discretion.”).
12 As such, Vehicle Code § 22349 applies here. Thus, because Gonzalez violated
13 Vehicle Code § 22349(b), the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ partial motion for summary
14 judgment as to the first element of their negligence per se claim, that Gonzalez and CVWD
15 violated a statute, ordinance, or regulation of a public entity.
16 ii. Whether Gonzalez & CVWD’s Negligence Was the
17 Proximate Cause of Plaintiffs’ Deaths and Injuries
18 Next, Plaintiffs assert it is undisputed that Gonzalez’s driving in excess of the speed
19 limit was a legal cause of the collision and Plaintiffs’ deaths and damages. (Doc. No. 109-
20 1 at 17.) CVWD and Gonzalez disagree, asserting California Evidence Code § 669(a)
21 requires proof that the violation proximately caused death or injury to the person or
22 property, and that this proof requirement is an issue of fact. (Doc. No. 115 at 9.) The Court
23 agrees.
24 “In order for a claim of negligence per se to succeed, all four elements must be
25 shown. The first two are matters for the trier of fact; the second two are to be determined
26 by the court as a matter of law.” Lua v. S. Pac. Transp. Co., 6 Cal. App. 4th 1897, 1901–
27 02 (1992) (citing Capolungo v. Bondi, 179 Cal. App. 3d 346, 350 (1986)). Because there
28 are genuine disputes of material fact, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion for summary
1 judgment as to whether CVWD and Gonzalez’s negligence was a legal/proximate cause of
2 Plaintiffs’ deaths and damages.
3 iii. Whether Decedent Plaintiffs Were Comparatively Negligent
4 Plaintiffs’ further request the Court to grant summary judgment against CVWD,
5 Gonzalez, County of Imperial, Cross-Defendant De-Sa, and Third-Party Defendant IID on
6 the claim that Decedent Plaintiffs were not comparatively negligent and at fault for their
7 injuries. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 22–25.) The County does not dispute this claim in its
8 opposition. (See generally Doc. No. 117.) CVWD and Gonzalez oppose this request,
9 asserting that issues of negligence are for the triers of fact, and that courts rarely decide
10 comparative negligence questions without submitting them to the jury. (Doc. No. 115 at
11 10–11 (citing Maxwell v. Colburn, 105 Cal. App. 3d 180, 186 (1980)).) However, CVWD
12 and Gonzalez offer no evidence demonstrating that a genuine dispute as to any material
13 fact exists as to the comparative negligence of Decedent Plaintiffs. As such, the Court
14 GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment against CVWD, Gonzalez,
15 County of Imperial, Cross-Defendant De-Sa, and Third-Party Defendant IID on the claim
16 that Decedent Plaintiffs were not comparatively negligent and at fault for their injuries.
17 iv. Whether Cross-Defendant De-Sa Was Comparatively
18 Negligent
19 Plaintiffs next move for partial summary judgment on the claim that Cross-
20 Defendant De-Sa was comparatively negligent. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 26–28.) Both the
21 County and CVWD and Gonzalez oppose summary judgment on this issue. (Doc. Nos. 115
22 at 10–14, 117 at 19–20.)
23 CVWD and Gonzalez assert the jury is entitled to hear all the evidence regarding the
24 circumstances of both drivers as they drove on the two-lane dirt roads approaching the
25 intersection where the accident occurred. (Doc. No. 115 at 13.) Specifically, CVWD and
26 Gonzalez argue there are issues of material fact, including the reasonableness of De-Sa in
27 avoiding CalTrans road closures and detours and instead electing to proceed on unknown,
28 uncontrolled dirt roads, and De-Sa’s approach of the intersection exceeding 55 m.p.h. (Id.)
1 The County similarly contends there are issues of material fact, such as De-Sa’s
2 ability to see Gonzalez’s Ford at all times during his approach to the intersection,
3 notwithstanding the presence of the berm. (Doc. No. 117 at 20.) In support of this assertion,
4 the County references the Deposition of Jon Landerville, MSME, PE, who stated that at
5 four seconds prior to the collision, De-Sa could have seen a portion of Gonzalez’s Ford if
6 he had looked in the direction of the Ford. (Deposition of Jon Landerville, Doc. No. 117-
7 1, at 253–54.) This assertion is further supported by Expert Thomas F. Fugger, Jr., P.E.,
8 (Deposition of Thomas F. Fugger, Jr., Doc. No. 117-1, at 238–39), and Expert Gavin
9 Huntley-Fenner, Ph.D, (Doc. No. 117-1 at 303–04).
10 The County further argues that because this is a diversity case, California principles
11 of comparative fault govern. (Id. at 19.) Specifically, the County points to Civil Code
12 § 1431.2(a) which provides:
13 In any action for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, based
upon principles of comparative fault, the liability of each defendant for non-
14
economic damages shall be several only and shall not be joint. Each defendant
15 shall be liable only for the amount of non-economic damages allocated to that
defendant in direct proportion to that defendant’s percentage of fault, and a
16
separate judgment shall be rendered against that defendant for that amount.
17
18 (Id. (citing Cal. Civ. Code § 1431.2(a)).) As such, the County asserts, a jury should
19 determine whether, and to what extent, each party is responsible for a comparative share
20 of the liability for the subject accident. (Id.)
21 As briefly mentioned above in Section III.B.3, “courts rarely decide comparative
22 negligence questions without submitting them to the jury.” Maxwell, 105 Cal. App. 3d at
23 186. Moreover, “[w]here a case is subject to comparative fault principles, it is inappropriate
24 for summary judgment.” Wright v. Stang Mfg. Co., 54 Cal. App. 4th 1218, 1233 (1997)
25 (citing Milwaukee Elec. Tool Corp. v. Superior Court, 15 Cal. App. 4th 547, 565 (1993));
26 see Knight v. Jewett, 3 Cal. 4th 296, 313–14 (1992) (stating “the ‘comparative fault’
27 doctrine is a flexible, commonsense concept, under which a jury properly may consider
28 and evaluate the relative responsibilities of various parties for an injury . . . in order to
1 arrive at an ‘equitable apportionment or allocation of loss’”).
2 In light of the disputed facts concerning this collision, summary judgment based on
3 comparative negligence as to De-Sa is not appropriate. Therefore, Plaintiffs’ motion for
4 partial summary judgment against CVWD, Gonzalez, County, and IID on the claim that
5 De-Sa was not comparatively negligent and at fault for Plaintiffs’ injuries is DENIED.
6 3. Wrongful Death Claim Against the County
7 i. Whether the County Owned and Maintained the Subject
8 Intersection
9 The County does not dispute that it owns and controls both Schrimpf and English
10 Roads, at the location where the two roads intersect. (Doc. No. 117 at 8; see also Doc. Nos.
11 5 at 7, 28 at 8.) However, the County clarifies that it does not own or control the dirt berm
12 which lies 73 feet north of Schrimpf Road. (Doc. No. 117 at 8.) Because the County does
13 not dispute that it owns and maintains the subject intersection, the Court GRANTS partial
14 summary judgment as to this fact.
15 ii. Whether the Intersection Was in a Dangerous Condition
16 Plaintiffs also move for partial summary judgment as to the first element of their
17 wrongful death claim based on a “dangerous condition” theory. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 28.)
18 Specifically, Plaintiffs allege the uncontrolled intersection in which the two vehicles
19 collided was maintained by the County and in a dangerous condition. (Id.) The County
20 opposes, asserting that an issue of material fact exists because the berm did not completely
21 block either driver from seeing the other. (Doc. No. 117 at 10.) It is undisputed the alleged
22 dangerous condition was designed and constructed by IID, rather than the County. (Id. at
23 8.)
24 A public entity is liable under California Government Code § 835 if the plaintiff
25 establishes: (1) the public property was in a dangerous condition at the time of the injury;
26 (2) the injury was proximately caused by the dangerous condition; (3) the kind of injury
27 that occurred was reasonably foreseeable as a consequence of the dangerous condition; and
28 either (4)(a) the dangerous condition was created by a public employee’s negligent or
1 wrongful act within the scope of their employment, or (b) the entity had actual or
2 constructive notice of the dangerous condition under § 835.2 a sufficient time prior to the
3 injury to have taken measures to protect against the dangerous condition. Cal. Gov’t Code
4 § 835.
5 A “dangerous condition” is defined as “a condition of property that creates a
6 substantial (as distinguished from a minor, trivial or insignificant) risk of injury when such
7 property or adjacent property is used with due care in a manner in which it is reasonably
8 foreseeable that it will be used.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 830(a). “Whether a condition creates a
9 substantial risk of harm depends on how the general public would use the property
10 exercising due care” and is determined under an objective standard. Schonfeldt v. State, 61
11 Cal. App. 4th 1462, 1466 (1998). The California Supreme Court has held that “[t]he
12 existence of a dangerous condition is ordinarily a question of fact . . . but it can be decided
13 as a matter of law if reasonable minds can come to only one conclusion.” Bonanno v. Cent.
14 Contra Costa Transit Auth., 30 Cal. 4th 139, 148 (2003).
15 Plaintiffs first rely upon the sightline analysis performed by Plaintiffs’ retained civil
16 engineer, Mr. Marshal. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 28.) Based on the sightline analysis, Mr.
17 Marshal determined that, due to the dirt berm, the sightlines for both drivers were
18 obstructed such that the drivers could not adequately see one another. (Id.) Mr. Marshal
19 further states that although the intersection was unobstructed by the berm for the final 150
20 feet before the drivers entered the intersection, the subject intersection requires a sight
21 distance of 285 feet for a speed limit of 55 mph, as was the speed limit here. (Id. at 29.)
22 Plaintiffs provide further testimony from experts which show that at 55 mph, a driver
23 travels 150 feet in 1.8 seconds. (Id. at 30.) Thus, with only 150 feet of sight distance after
24 the berm, the drivers would have had roughly 1.8 seconds to perceive, react, and implement
25 an evasive maneuver to cross-traffic. (Id.) Plaintiffs’ human factors expert, Dr. Zackowitz,
26 additionally testified that the drivers lacked sufficient time to react to each other after they
27 could first see one another because perception response time is generally within 1.6
28 seconds, but can be longer. (Id. at 31.) Thus, the drivers would have had a mere 0.2 seconds
1 to effectuate a response to avoid the hazard of oncoming traffic. (Id.)
2 The County opposes, asserting the berm caused—at most—only a partial obstruction
3 of the drivers’ lines of sight, and thus the intersection was not in a dangerous condition.
4 (Doc. No. 117 at 10.) Rather, the County argues, Gonzalez and De-Sa could have seen one
5 another despite the partial sightline obstruction from the berm. (Id.) The County contends
6 this is supported by Cieran Perry’s statement to law enforcement immediately after the
7 accident that he actually saw De-Sa’s Hyundai and its dust trail prior to the accident. (Id.
8 (citing Deposition of Officer Michael Chell, Doc. No. 117-1, at 152–53).) This is further
9 supported by Plaintiffs’ accident reconstruction expert, Mr. Jon Landerville, who testified
10 that at four seconds prior to the collision, De-Sa and Gonzalez could have seen a portion
11 of the other’s car if they had looked in that direction. (Id. (citing Deposition of Jon
12 Landerville, Doc. No. 117-1, at 253–54); see also Doc. No. 117-1 at 238–39 (Deposition
13 of Thomas Fugger, testifying that in the five seconds of approach to the intersection, the
14 windowsill height above the berm was visible for each vehicle); Doc. No. 117-1 at 273
15 (Mr. Miller’s export report, asserting that based upon the California Highway Patrol MAIT
16 report, the two vehicles would have been fully visible to each other when each was 100
17 feet from the intersection).)2
18 Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes there are triable issues of fact
19 concerning whether the intersection was in a dangerous condition. Because there are
20 material facts in dispute, summary judgment is inappropriate as to whether a dangerous
21 condition existed at the time of the collision. On this basis, Plaintiffs’ motion for partial
22 summary judgment is DENIED.
23 ///
24 ///
25
26
2 Plaintiffs also argue that a post-accident installation of stop signs at the subject intersection constitutes
27 evidence that the intersection was in a dangerous condition at the time of the accident, due to the lack of
stop signs. (Doc. No. 109-1 at 31.) However, evidence of a subsequent remedial measure is inadmissible
28
1 4. Notice
2 California Government Code § 835(b) provides a plaintiff may establish that a public
3 entity had either actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition under § 835.2 “a
4 sufficient time prior to the injury to have taken measures to protect against the dangerous
5 condition.” Cole v. Town of Los Gatos, 205 Cal. App. 4th 749, 778 (2012) (citing Gov’t
6 Code § 835(b)).
7 The County asserts it lacked actual knowledge that the subject berm existed and
8 would have had no reason to investigate the area or believe that the intersection was unsafe
9 in any way. (Doc. No. 117 at 15.) Plaintiffs assert they are not required to have direct
10 evidence of notice, and instead may rely on circumstantial evidence. (Doc. No. 128 at 11.)
11 Because “[c]onstructive knowledge may be shown by circumstantial evidence” and
12 Plaintiffs fail to address actual notice in their reply, the Court finds Plaintiffs concede this
13 point to the County.
14 California Government Code § 835.2 provides that constructive notice exists “only
15 if the plaintiff establishes that the condition had existed for such a period of time and was
16 of such an obvious nature that the public entity, in the exercise of due care, should have
17 discovered the condition and its dangerous character.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 835.2(b); Heskel
18 v. City of San Diego, 227 Cal. App. 4th 313, 317 (2014) (“Whether the dangerous condition
19 was obvious and whether it existed for a sufficient period of time are threshold elements to
20 establish a claim of constructive notice.”). Whether a public entity had constructive notice
21 is generally a question of fact for the jury to decide. Gallipo v. City of Long Beach, 146
22 Cal. App. 2d 520, 527 (1957). Here, it is undisputed that the berm was built in 2014,
23 approximately five years before the subject collision.
24 Plaintiffs first argue the County had a system to regularly inspect roads for
25 dangerous conditions, so the County had constructive notice of the berm’s existence. (Doc.
26 No. 109-1 at 32.) In support, Plaintiffs refer to the testimony of the County’s employee,
27 John Gay, in which he stated “it’s a matter of everyday when our crews are out, you know,
28 particularly our managers. . . . if they were to see something within their immediate areas
1 of operation, then they’re going to, you know, they’re going to note that in some manner
2 that’s going to be put into a report or two to fix.” (Deposition of John Gay (“Gay Depo.”),
3 Doc. No. 109-17, at 5.) Mr. Gay further testified the County attempts to blade dirt roads
4 one to three times a year, and that “if [the blade operators] see something in the road that
5 needs to be addressed, the expectation is that they would either address it then, or if it were
6 more extensive, address it later.” (Id. at 9.) Plaintiffs further rely on the testimony of Mr.
7 Marshal, who stated “that anybody, you know, who has been out there, they would have
8 noticed the berm.” (Doc. No. 109-16 at 3.)
9 The County responds that Plaintiffs have not met their burden on summary judgment
10 that the County had constructive notice of the alleged dangerous condition because
11 Plaintiffs materially misrepresent the evidence regarding notice of the existence of the
12 berm. (Doc. No. 117 at 15.) First, the County asserts field operations and assistant road
13 yard supervisors are primarily responsible for proactively reviewing road conditions for
14 potential hazards or defects, rather than blading operators. (Id. at 15–16 (citing Gay Depo.
15 at 5).) The County further asserts that Mr. Gay never testified that a County blading
16 operator would be expected to identify a line-of-sight obstruction from a berm seventy-
17 three feet away from the County’s right-of-way. (Id. at 16.) Rather, blading operators focus
18 on whether “there’s no one ahead of them; no one that can hit them, and then they’re
19 focusing on their blade itself because you don’t want to clip utilities.” (Id. (quoting Gay
20 Depo. at 9).) As such, the County asserts Plaintiffs have not shown it knew or should have
21 known that the berm created a dangerous condition.
22 The Court finds there are questions to be answered by the jury, which may draw
23 different inferences from the evidence that are less favorable to Plaintiffs. See Bean v.
24 Costco Wholesale Corp., 561 F. Supp. 3d 915, 923 (E.D. Cal. 2021). Thus, the Court finds
25 a genuine dispute exists as to whether the County had constructive notice of the dangerous
26 condition and DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment as to this issue.
27 IV. CONCLUSION
28 Based on the foregoing, the Court:
1 1. GRANTS CVWD’s motion to exclude expert opinions of David Fractor,
2 ||(Doc. No. 103);
3 2. GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART the County’s motion to
4 exclude expert opinions of Ilene Zackowitz, (Doc. No. 104);
5 3. DENIES the County’s motion to exclude expert opinions of David Casteel
6 Robert Thompson, (Doc. No. 105);
7 4. GRANTS the County’s motion to exclude expert opinions of Edward Ruzak,
8 ||(Doc. No. 106);
9 5. DENIES the County’s motion to exclude expert opinions of Reza Marshal,
10 || (Doc. No. 107);
11 6. DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion to exclude the Kimley-Horn Study, (Doc. No.
12 || 110); and
13 7. GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Plaintiffs’ partial motion for
14 ||summary judgment, (Doc. No. 109).
15
16 IT IS SO ORDERED.
17 Dated: September 10, 2022 | ZS : Le
18 Hon. Anthony J.Battaglia
19 United States District Judge
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