Case Background
On October 16, 2021, around 5:00 p.m., Plaintiff Regino Gomez-Garcia exited Madison Elementary School in Riverside. He drove onto Madison Street with a green light and began making a left turn. At the same time, Defendants Gladys Gallegos and Pedro Gallegos approached northbound on Madison Street.
Cause
Defendants allegedly failed to yield to oncoming traffic. They ran a red light and collided with Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed their negligent and reckless driving directly caused the crash. He further alleged that their unlawful disregard for traffic signals created an unreasonable danger, leaving him unable to avoid impact.
Injury
The collision caused serious harm to Plaintiff. He sustained physical injuries and shock to his nervous system. He reported lasting pain, physical limitations, and emotional suffering. His health, strength, and daily activities were significantly affected.
Damages
Plaintiff required medical care and treatment. He incurred medical expenses and expected future costs. He also claimed loss of earnings and diminished earning capacity. He sought compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Regino Gomez-Garcia
Counsel for Plaintiff: Lior Behdadnia | Byron Jacob Abron | Shawn Sasooness
Defendant(s): Gladys Gallegos | Pedro Gallegos
Counsel for Defendants: Stephen Charles Pasarow | Maria A. Grover | Charles C. Yun
Claims
Plaintiff filed a negligence claim against all Defendants. He alleged they recklessly operated their vehicle, ran a red light, and caused the crash. He sought general, special, and incidental damages, along with recovery for lost income and other relief the Court deemed proper.
Defense
Defendant Gladys Gallegos denied all allegations and liability in Plaintiff Regino Gomez-Garcia’s complaint. She argued that Plaintiff’s own negligence substantially contributed to the accident and any resulting injuries. She further claimed that other parties, whether named defendants or unknown third persons, also bore responsibility. According to her answer, these concurrent tortfeasors or intervening causes reduced or eliminated any liability on her part.
Gallegos raised several affirmative defenses. She invoked comparative negligence and the Fair Responsibility Act, asserting fault must be apportioned among all responsible parties. She argued Plaintiff’s non-economic damages were barred under Civil Code § 3333.4. She also contended Plaintiff failed to mitigate damages and that the complaint failed to state a valid cause of action. Finally, she asserted the claims were barred by the statute of limitations under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.
Verdict
On June 18, 2025, the Superior Court of Riverside County entered judgment on a jury verdict in favor of Plaintiff Regino Gomez-Garcia. The jury found Defendant Gladys Gallegos negligent and determined her negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm. The jury awarded Plaintiff $429,750.35 in past medical expenses, $2,317,006.00 in future medical expenses, $786,000.00 in past non-economic damages, and $5,037,000.00 in future non-economic damages, for a total of $8,569,756.35. The Court ordered judgment for Plaintiff in that amount, plus costs and interest at ten percent per annum until paid, along with any prejudgment interest.
Court Documents
Court documents are available for purchase upon request at [email protected]
