$20,000,000

By Claggett & Sykes Trial Lawyers | February 1, 2024

Product Defect/Quadriplegia

Jury Verdict

 

This case involved a defective sport UTV (an offroad recreational vehicle). Julio Cerna purchased the Hisun Strike 1000 UTV from L&K Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a B2B Truck Sales. About a year later, Julio was driving the UTV at the Oceano Dunes in Pismo Beach, CA. One of the dunes had significant dropoff. As the UTV crested the dune, it fell off the dropoff and rolled. The seatbelts in the UTV did not properly restrain Julio and at the same time, the rollover protection system (ROPS) collapsed as the UTV rolled. This caused Julio to slam into the ground head-first, causing a severe spinal injury that rendered him quadriplegic.

Trial took place in late 2023 in Modesto, CA. The jury found the UTV to be defectively designed but also found Julio to be 50% at fault. The jury awarded the following damages:

$1,200,000 – Past economic loss

$5,027,015 – Future economic loss

$1,500,000 – Past noneconomic loss

$4,000,000 – Future noneconomic loss

$8,400,000 – loss of consortium damages for Julio’s wife

Claggett & Sykes Trial Counsel – Sean Claggett (lead trial attorney) and Geordan Logan