Michael Sokmen v. United States of America

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8 United States District Court

9 Central District of California

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11 MICHAEL SOKMEN et al., Case № 2:22-cv-01529-ODW (ASx)

12 Plaintiffs,

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND

13 v.

DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S

14 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MOTION FOR PARTIAL

15 SUMMARY JUDGMENT [28]

Defendant.

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17 I. INTRODUCTION

18 Plaintiffs Estate of Ender Ali Sokmen (“Plaintiff Estate”), Michael Sokmen, and

19 Leyla Kalender Sokmen initiated this wrongful death lawsuit against Defendant

20 United States of America. (Compl., ECF No. 1.) Defendant now moves for partial

21 summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 56, seeking

22 summary judgment in its favor on certain of Plaintiffs’ damages claims. (Mot. Partial

23 Summ. J. (“Motion” or “Mot.”), ECF No. 28.) The Court carefully considered the

24 papers filed in connection with the Motion and deemed the matter appropriate for

25 decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. For the

26 following reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART

27 Defendant’s Motion.

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1 II. BACKGROUND

2 Michael Sokmen and Leyla Kalender Sokmen (together, “Parent Plaintiffs”) are

3 the surviving parents and heirs of Decedent Ender Ali Sokmen (“Decedent”). (Def.’s

4 Separate Statement of Uncontroverted Facts & Conclusions of Law (“SUF”) 11, ECF

5 No. 28-1.) On the morning of February 13, 2020, Decedent was driving his

6 motorcycle southbound on Valley View Boulevard in Cypress, California, when he

7 collided with a van Plaintiffs allege was driven by an employee of Defendant. (SUF 1

8 (citing Compl. ¶ 15); Compl. ¶ 16.) As a result of the collision, Decedent flew off the

9 motorcycle and subsequently hit the curb, sustaining blunt force trauma to his head.

10 (Decl. Sarah Quist ISO Mot. (“Quist Decl.”) Ex. C (“Expert Report”) 3, ECF

11 No. 28-5.)

12 Approximately twenty to thirty seconds after the collision, a witness arrived on

13 the scene. (SUF 3.) When the witness turned over Decedent, the witness thought

14 Decedent was “probably already dead.” (Quist Decl. Ex. B (“Downie Dep.”) 91:12–

15 19, ECF No. 28-4.) A few minutes later, an ambulance arrived on the scene. (SUF 7.)

16 Decedent was then taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, and shortly after he

17 arrived, he was pronounced dead. (Compl. ¶ 20; SUF 8.)

18 On March 7, 2022, Plaintiffs brought this action, asserting claims against

19 Defendant for (1) negligence; (2) wrongful death; and (3) survivor action1. (Compl.

20 ¶¶ 21–48.) On June 9, 2022, Defendant answered the Complaint. (Answer, ECF

21 No. 12.) Defendant now moves for partial summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56,

22 asserting that (1) certain of Plaintiffs’ damages claims are not available as a matter of

23 law and (2) with respect to other damages claims, Plaintiffs have insufficient evidence

24 to demonstrate a genuine dispute of material fact. The Motion is fully briefed.

25 (Opp’n, ECF No. 29; Reply, ECF No. 31.)

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28 1 More commonly referred to as a “survival action.” See, e.g., Garofalo v. Princess Cruises, Inc.,

85 Cal. App. 4th 1060, 1072 (2000).

1 III. LEGAL STANDARD

2 Summary judgment is appropriate if, viewing the evidence and drawing all

3 reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there “is no

4 genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a

5 matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322

6 (1986). A fact is “material” if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the

7 governing law,” and a dispute about a material fact is “genuine” if there is sufficient

8 evidence for a reasonable trier of fact to decide in favor of the nonmoving party.

9 Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).

10 A party cannot create a genuine issue of material fact by making bald assertions

11 in its legal papers. See S.A. Empresa de Viacao Aerea Rio Grandense v. Walter Kidde

12 & Co., 690 F.2d 1235, 1238 (9th Cir. 1982). Moreover, “[i]f the evidence is merely

13 colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.”

14 Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249–50 (citations omitted). However, at the summary

15 judgment stage, the Court “does not assess credibility or weigh the evidence, but

16 simply determines whether there is a genuine factual issue for trial.” House v. Bell,

17 547 U.S. 518, 559–60 (2006) (Roberts, J., concurring in part).

18 The moving party has the burden of demonstrating the absence of genuine issue

19 of fact for trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. To meet its burden, “the moving party must

20 either produce evidence negating an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim

21 or defense or show that the nonmoving party does not have enough evidence of an

22 essential element to carry its ultimate burden of persuasion at trial.” Nissan Fire &

23 Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Cos., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). Once the moving

24 party satisfies its initial burden of production, the burden shifts to the nonmoving

25 party to show that there is a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 1103.

26 IV. DISCUSSION

27 In its Motion, Defendant organizes Plaintiffs’ damages claims according to who

28 asserts them. (Mot. 1.) First, Defendants address Plaintiff Estate’s damages claims,

1 sought as part of its survival action. Then, Defendants address Parent Plaintiffs’

2 damages claims, sought as part of their wrongful death action. The Court adopts this

3 approach herein.

4 A. Plaintiff Estate’s Damages Claims

5 Defendant challenges Plaintiff Estate’s claims to damages for (1) funeral costs,

6 travel costs, lost earning capacity, and future lost wages; and (2) pain and suffering.

7 The Court considers each of these two groups of claims in turn.

8 1. Funeral Costs, Travel Costs, Lost Earning Capacity, and Lost Wages

9 Defendant argues that Plaintiff Estate’s damages claims for funeral costs, travel

10 costs, and future lost wages are not recoverable as a matter of law. (Mot. 7–8.)

11 Defendant further argues that Plaintiff Estate has insufficient evidence to show that

12 lost earning capacity—that is, earnings that Decedent would have earned during his

13 life had he not been injured—is in genuine dispute. (Id. at 8.)

14 In a survival action, “the damages recoverable are limited to the loss or damage

15 that the decedent sustained or incurred before death.” Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.34;

16 see People v. Runyan, 54 Cal. 4th 849, 861–62 (2012) (“No civil claim can be

17 asserted, on a decedent’s personal behalf, for injury or damage to the decedent that

18 occurs, or accrues, after the decedent has died.”); see also Chaudhry v. City of Los

19 Angeles, 751 F.3d 1096, 1104 (9th Cir. 2014) (“Section 377.34 limits damages in

20 survival actions to the victim’s pre-death economic losses. In cases where the victim

21 dies quickly, there often will be no damage remedy at all under § 377.34.” (citation

22 omitted)).

23 Here, Plaintiff Estate’s claimed damages for funeral costs, travel costs, and lost

24 future wages are, as a matter of law, not available because Decedent did not incur

25 these damages prior to his death. Similarly, lost earning capacity damages are, as a

26 matter of law, not available; Decedent died almost instantly after the collision, so there

27 was no intervening pre-death period where wages would otherwise have been earned.

28 Chaudhry, 751 F.3d at 1104.

1 Based on the foregoing, the Court grants Defendant’s Motion as to Plaintiff

2 Estate’s claims for funeral costs, travel costs, lost earning capacity, and lost wages.

3 2. Pain and Suffering

4 Plaintiff Estate seeks pain and suffering damages as part of its survival action.

5 This damages claim is made possible by the recently amended California Code of

6 Civil Procedure section 377.34, which, as of January 1, 2022, allows decedents’

7 personal representatives to seek damages for the decedent’s pre-death pain and

8 suffering. See, e.g., Brown v. Gordon, No. 21-cv-08098-LB, 2022 WL 2391002, at *2

9 (N.D. Cal. July 1, 2022). Defendant nevertheless argues that Plaintiff Estate cannot

10 recover for Decedent’s pain and suffering because there is no evidence to establish

11 that Decedent was conscious to feel pain at any time before his death. (Mot. 9.)

12 To determine the scope of California’s newly enacted remedy for pain and

13 suffering in survival actions, this Court looks to precedent regarding pain and

14 suffering damages more generally. In a wrongful death action under the Jones Act, for

15 example, the Ninth Circuit noted that the decedent must have “remained conscious for

16 a legally substantial period of time after [they] sustained the injuries that eventually

17 resulted in [their] death.” Cook v. Ross Island Sand & Gravel Co., 626 F.2d 746, 751

18 (9th Cir. 1980). Similarly, courts in this and other jurisdictions generally hold that

19 there must be “some level of awareness” for a plaintiff to recover for pain and

20 suffering. McDougald v. Garber, 536 N.E.2d 372, 375 (N.Y. 1989); see also Nelson v.

21 Acosta-Corrales, No. 12-1419-JAR-JPO, 2014 WL 1048007, at *3 (D. Kan. Mar. 18,

22 2014) (“[E]vidence must exist showing that a deceased consciously suffered in the

23 time between the trauma and death.”); cf. Nunez v. Santos, 427 F. Supp. 3d 1165,

24 1190 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 13, 2019) (recognizing that “pre-death pain and suffering

25 damages” in 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases “must be actual and must be proved”). What

26 constitutes a “legally substantial period of time” varies depending on the

27 circumstances of each case. Cook, 626 F.2d at 751–52 (holding the decedent’s

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1 conscious suffering for two and one-half minutes was sufficient to support a

2 substantial jury award for pain and suffering).

3 Applying these principles here, Plaintiff is precluded from pursuing pain and

4 suffering damages if there is no genuine dispute of material fact that Decedent was not

5 conscious during the events leading to his death. In considering whether Defendant

6 meets its initial burden of demonstrating that Decedent was not conscious to

7 experience pain and suffering, it is helpful to separate the analysis into two different

8 time periods: (1) the period of time from just before Decedent’s collision with the

9 vehicle, including Decedent’s collision with the vehicle, and up to Decedent’s

10 collision with the curb (“Timespan #1”); and (2) the purported period of time

11 immediately following Decedent’s collision with curb until his death (“Timespan

12 #2”).

13 Defendant submits its Expert Report to establish that Decedent was not

14 conscious to experience pain at any time after the collision. (Mot. 9; Expert Report 4.)

15 In that Expert Report, Dr. George Baskevitch, a licensed medical doctor whose

16 qualifications Plaintiffs do not currently dispute, observes that Decedent first collided

17 with the vehicle and then “was thrown through the air a distance of 60 to 100 feet and

18 impacted the roadway and curb.” (Id.) After stating this observation, Dr. Baskevitch

19 opines that Decedent “sustained severe blunt force trauma because of this collision.”

20 (Id.) Dr. Baskevitch further opines that Decedent’s “most significant injuries were

21 fractures to the base of his skull” and that “[t]hese injuries alone, to a reasonable

22 degree of medical certainty, would have resulted in immediate loss of consciousness.”

23 (Id.) Defendant also submits deposition testimony from Christopher Downie, the

24 witness who approached the scene just after the collision and thought Decedent “was

25 probably already dead” after turning him over. (Downie Dep. 91:12–19.)

26 This evidence is sufficient to show that Decedent was not conscious, as is

27 required to recover for pain and suffering damages, during Timespan #2—from when

28 Decedent impacted the curb until his death. Dr. Baskevitch’s expert opinion

1 establishes that Decedent suffered trauma “because of this collision” and that the

2 resulting fractures to the skull would have resulted in immediate loss of consciousness.

3 (Expert Report 4.) This evidence demonstrates that Decedent had lost consciousness

4 by the moment he collided with the road. Thus, there is no “legally substantial period

5 of time” following the collision with the road during which Decedent experienced

6 pain and suffering. Cook, 626 F.2d at 751–52.

7 Plaintiffs do not present any evidence that would tend to contradict this

8 conclusion from Dr. Baskevitch’s report. Consequently, the Court grants summary

9 judgment as to any pain and suffering that allegedly occurred after Decedent collided

10 with the road.

11 However, Defendant’s evidence is insufficient to meet its initial burden to

12 demonstrate that Decedent lacked consciousness during Timespan #1. In describing

13 the effects of the accident on Decedent’s body and bodily systems, Dr. Baskevitch

14 does not distinguish between Decedent’s first collision (with the van) and his second

15 (with the road). As a result of this failure to distinguish between the two collisions, Dr.

16 Baskevitch stops short of opining that the first collision in particular caused Decedent

17 to immediately lose consciousness. Accordingly, the Expert Report does not establish

18 that Decedent lacked consciousness during Timespan #1, and thus, as to Timespan #1,

19 Defendant fails to meet its initial burden of showing that Decedent did not experience

20 any pain and suffering. Thus, Defendant is not entitled to summary judgment as to

21 Timespan #1.

22 In summary, the Court grants summary judgment as to Timespan #2 and denies

23 summary judgment as to Timespan #1. Plaintiff Estate may proceed with its claim for

24 pain and suffering damages, but only as to the time period beginning just before

25 Decedent’s collision with the vehicle and ending with Decedent’s collision with the

26 ground.

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1 B. Parent Plaintiffs’ Damages Claims

2 Defendant challenges Parent Plaintiffs’ claims to damages for (1) their own

3 medical care and lost earnings; (2) their own pain and suffering; (3) financial support;

4 and (4) funeral and travel costs, arguing that each of these categories of damages is

5 not available as a matter of law. (Mot. 10–12.) The Court considers each category in

6 turn.

7 1. Medical Care and Lost Earnings

8 Defendant argues that the law does not provide for Parent Plaintiffs’ recovery

9 for their own medical care and lost earnings. (Mot. 10–11.) Plaintiffs do not provide

10 a response to this argument. (See generally Opp’n.) Moreover, the Court finds

11 Defendant’s position to be in accord with relevant law and the facts of this case. This

12 includes a finding that, as a matter of law, there is no causal link between Decedent’s

13 death, on one hand, and Parent Plaintiffs’ own medical care and lost earnings, on the

14 other hand. San Diego Gas & Elec. Co. v. Superior Court, 146 Cal. App. 4th 1545,

15 1550–51 (2007) (noting wrongful death is a “statutory claim (§§ 377.60–377.62) that

16 compensates heirs of the decedent for losses suffered as a result of a decedent’s

17 death”).

18 Thus, this Court grants Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to Parent

19 Plaintiffs’ medical care and lost earnings.

20 2. Pain and Suffering

21 Defendant argues that Parent Plaintiffs cannot, as a matter of law, recover for

22 their own pain and suffering. (Mot. 12.) Plaintiffs do not provide a response to this

23 argument. (See generally Opp’n.) Moreover, the Court finds Defendant’s position to

24 be in accord with the law. See Krouse v. Graham, 19 Cal. 3d 59, 72 (1977) (noting

25 that “damages for mental and emotional distress . . . are not recoverable in a wrongful

26 death action” under California law); see also Judicial Council of California Civil Jury

27 Instructions (2023) (“CACI”) 3921.

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1 Thus, this Court grants Defendant’s Motion as to Parent Plaintiffs’ claim for

2 their own pain and suffering.

3 3. Financial Support

4 Defendant argues that Parent Plaintiffs’ claim for financial support must be

5 dismissed because the evidence indicates that Parent Plaintiffs were not financially

6 dependent on Decedent at the time of his death. (Mot. 12.) However, Defendant does

7 not meet its initial burden on this issue. In proper cases, beneficiaries in wrongful

8 death actions may recover for future financial support that the decedent would have

9 otherwise been able to provide. Boeken v. Philip Morris USA Inc., 217 Cal. App. 4th

10 992, 997 (2013) (“Under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.61, damages for

11 wrongful death ‘are measured by the financial benefits the heirs were receiving at the

12 time of death [and] those reasonably to be expected in the future . . . .’”). Defendant

13 fails to persuade the Court that the mere showing that a decedent was not providing

14 financial support to beneficiaries at the time of death prevents the beneficiaries from

15 recovering for financial support the decedent might have provided in the future.

16 Accordingly, the Court denies the Motion as to Parent Plaintiffs’ claim for financial

17 support.

18 4. Funeral Costs

19 Defendant argues that the Court should limit Parent Plaintiffs’ recovery for

20 funeral expenses to $8,750 because the only available documentary evidence on the

21 matter is a receipt showing payment in the amount of $8,750. (Mot. 11.) The parties

22 do not dispute that Parent Plaintiffs are legally permitted to recover funeral expenses;

23 instead, Defendant seeks to limit the amount of the claim on the grounds that Plaintiffs

24 have no evidence that funeral expenses were any greater than $8,750.

25 Defendant’s argument is not well taken. Plaintiffs allege they incurred

26 $10,230.75 in connection with the transport and burial of Decedent’s body. (Compl.

27 ¶ 39.) Michael Sokmen possesses a receipt showing a payment in the amount of

28 $8,750, and he testified in deposition that he paid the remaining amount of $1,480.75

1 in cash. (Quist Decl. Ex. E (“Michael Sokmen Dep.”) 112:11–21, ECF No. 28-7.)

2 The general rule at summary judgment is that the court is not to assess the credibility

3 of testimony, and that rule applies here. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. Michael

4 Sokmen’s testimony, if credited, would be sufficient for a factfinder to find that he

5 incurred the additional amount. Thus, the exact amount of funeral expenses is a

6 genuine issue of disputed fact for the factfinder to resolve. The Court accordingly

7 denies the Motion as to funeral expenses.

8 5. Travel Costs

9 Finally, Defendant argues that past and future travel expenses are not

10 recoverable as a matter of law and that Plaintiffs’ claims for such expenses should be

11 dismissed. (Mot. 11.)

12 “Under California law, the beneficiaries of an action for wrongful death are

13 entitled to recover the reasonable value of funeral expenses paid or incurred by them.”

14 In re Air Crash Disaster Near Cerritos, Cal., On Aug. 31, 1986, 982 F.2d 1271, 1276

15 (9th Cir. 1992); see also CACI No. 3921. It is possible, therefore, that “past travel”

16 expenses—meaning travel expenses incurred up to, for, and in connection with

17 Decedent’s funeral and burial—may be recoverable. Defendant does not meet its

18 initial burden of showing such “past travel” expenses are not recoverable, and

19 accordingly, the Court denies the Motion as to these expenses.

20 While Plaintiffs do defend their claim for travel expenses “attendant to

21 [Decedent’s] funeral and burial,” (Opp’n 7), Plaintiffs do not respond to Defendant’s

22 argument that “future travel” expenses, such as periodic memorial visits to the burial

23 site, are, as a matter of law, not recoverable, (see generally id.). Moreover, the Court

24 finds Defendant’s position on such “future travel” expenses to be in accord with

25 relevant law. While the cases confirm that funeral and burial expenses are

26 recoverable, Plaintiffs do not cite any case confirming the availability of ongoing,

27 future travel expenses related to the death. See In re Air Crash Disaster Near

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1 Cerritos, 982 F.2d at 1276 (funeral and burial expenses); Francis v. Sauve, 222 Cal.

2 App. 2d 102, 124 (funeral expenses).

3 Thus, the Court grants Defendant’s Motion as to Parent Plaintiffs’ claim for

4 “future travel” and denies the Motion as to Parent Plaintiffs’ claim for “past travel.”2

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2 As an alternative basis for dismissing one or more of Plaintiffs’ damages claims, Defendant argues

26 that Plaintiffs failed to provide a computation of damages and evidentiary support as required by

Rule 26(a)(1)(A)(iii). (Mot. 12–13.) However, Defendant simply makes this assertion in the Motion

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without providing a declaration or any supporting evidence regarding Plaintiffs’ Rule 26(a)

28 disclosures. (See id.) Accordingly, the Court does not consider the argument. See Comstock v.

Humphries, 786 F.3d 701, 709 (9th Cir. 2015) (“[A]rguments in briefs are not evidence.”).

1 Vv. CONCLUSION

2 For the reasons discussed above, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND

3 || DENIES IN PART Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. (ECF

No. 28.) The Court DISMISSES the following damages claims WITH

5 || PREJUDICE AND ON THE MERITS:

6 (1) Plaintiff Estate’s claims for funeral costs, travel costs, lost earning capacity,

7 future lost wages, and any pain and suffering allegedly occurring after

8 Decedent’s impact with the road; and

9 (2) Parent Plaintiffs’ claims for medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering,

10 and “future travel.”

11 The Court otherwise denies the Motion.

12 Moreover, the Court ORDERS that the following dates and deadlines shall take

13 || precedence over any dates and deadlines previously set in this matter:

14 e Bench Trial: November 3, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

15 e Deadline to File Final Trial Exhibit Stipulation: October 27, 2023

16 e Hearing on Motions in Limine: October 23, 2023

17 e Deadline to File Oppositions to Motions in Limine: October 10, 2023

18 e Deadline to file Motions in Limine: October 2, 2023

19 e Final Pretrial Conference: October 2, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

20 e Deadline to File Pretrial Documents: October 2, 2023

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22 IT IS SO ORDERED.

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24 July 20, 2023 OR

25 SA x A

Ge

7 OTIS D: GHT, II

08 UNITED STATES’ DISTRICT JUDGE