Case Background
On June 1, 2020, Ashley Diaz drove her vehicle northbound on Manzanita Avenue in Sacramento County, California. During this trip, a 2006 white truck owned by A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc., and driven by Zachary DeAngelis, collided with her vehicle. Diaz later filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, claiming that the negligence of the Defendants caused the accident.
Cause
Diaz alleged that Zachary DeAngelis operated the moving truck in a negligent and unreasonable manner. She further claimed that A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc., had negligently entrusted the vehicle to DeAngelis, despite knowing or having reason to know he was unfit to drive it.
Injury
The collision resulted in significant bodily injuries for Diaz. She reported suffering from both physical and mental pain, physical impairment, and emotional distress following the accident.
Damages Sought
In her initial complaint, Diaz sought compensation for several types of losses:
Past and future medical expenses and ancillary costs.
Loss of past and future income and earning capacity.
Loss of her ability to provide household services.
Property damage and loss of use of her vehicle.
Non-economic compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The trial for this case began on June 23, 2025, in Department 23 of the Sacramento County Superior Court, with Judge Jill H. Talley presiding.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Ashley Diaz.
Counsel for Plaintiff: Ryan K. Sawyer | Robin Smith
Defendants: A Better Moving & Storage Co., Inc. | Zachary DeAngelis.
Counsel for Defendants: Craig Humphrey
Claims
Diaz pursued two primary causes of action against the Defendants:
General Negligence: She argued that the Defendants' failure to use reasonable care in operating and maintaining the truck directly caused the crash.
Negligent Entrustment: She contended that the company was responsible for allowing an incompetent driver to operate their vehicle.
Defense
The Defendants filed an answer denying all allegations of negligence. They raised several affirmative defenses:
They argued that Diaz had assumed the risk of her injuries.
They claimed that Diaz was herself negligent and that her own actions contributed to the accident.
They asserted that the accident resulted from the sole negligence of the Plaintiff or other third parties.
They alleged that Diaz failed to mitigate her damages following the incident.
Jury Verdict
After hearing the evidence and arguments, the twelve-person jury deliberated and returned a verdict on July 10, 2025.
The jury found that Defendant Zachary DeAngelis was negligent and that his negligence was a substantial factor in causing Diaz’s injuries. Crucially, the jury found that Ashley Diaz was not negligent herself.
The jury awarded the following damages to Ashley Diaz:
Negligence and Liability The jury determined that Zachary DeAngelis was 100% at fault for the accident.
Economic Damages
Past Economic Losses: $391,693.
Future Economic Losses: $6,076,725.
Non-Economic Damages
Past Pain and Suffering: $250,000.
Future Pain and Suffering: $2,000,000.
Total Award
The final judgment, signed by Judge Jill H. Talley, ordered the Defendants to pay a total of $8,718,418 to Ashley Diaz. The Court also applied a ten percent annual interest rate on the judgment until it is fully paid.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
