Case Background
On May 19, 2021, Cristobal Alonso was working at the World Class Distribution Center in Chino, California. The facility stored and distributed various products. Alonso was inside the premises owned by the defendant company when the incident occurred. He was performing his job duties at the time. According to the complaint, actions by the defendants played a role in the events that unfolded, ultimately leading to his injury.
Cause
Alonso attributed the incident to the defendants’ negligence. He alleged they failed to maintain a safe work environment and ignored established safety protocols. Hazardous conditions were allowed to persist without correction. This alleged oversight and carelessness created risks that directly caused the accident. Alonso claimed the defendants’ lack of reasonable action was the legal cause of his injuries. The complaint portrayed the event as a preventable workplace accident that resulted from poor safety management.
Injury
The incident caused Alonso significant harm. He sustained physical injuries that left him unable to work. As a result, he lost wages and earning capacity. Medical treatment became necessary, adding financial strain. Beyond the physical pain, Alonso experienced emotional distress. His overall well-being suffered, and he claimed damage to property as part of the impact.
Damages
Alonso sought compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and diminished earning capacity. He also claimed damages for property loss and loss of use. General damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress were included in his demand. The complaint also mentioned potential punitive damages, asserting the defendants’ conduct warranted such relief.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Cristobal Alonso
Counsel for Plaintiff: The Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp
Defendant(s): Does 2 to 100 | Kohsar Logistics, LLC | Tahir Rasool | World Class Distribution, Inc.
Counsel for Defendants: Borton Petrini, LLP
Claims
The lawsuit set forth multiple claims. The primary cause of action was general negligence, alleging failure to ensure workplace safety. Alonso also claimed premises liability, holding the defendants responsible for unsafe property conditions. Additionally, he included products liability, asserting defects contributed to the incident. Each claim emphasized that the defendants’ acts or omissions directly caused his injuries. The suit sought damages, costs, and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Defense
The defendants, Tahir Rasool and Kohsar Logistics, LLC, filed a general denial to all allegations in Cristobal Alonso’s complaint, disputing liability and damages. They asserted that Alonso’s injuries were not caused by their actions and raised multiple affirmative defenses. These included failure to state a cause of action, comparative negligence by Alonso and/or third parties, release and waiver of claims, failure to mitigate damages, assumption of risk, intervening and superseding causes, and avoidable consequences.
They also invoked the statute of limitations, argued for non-joint liability for non-economic damages under California law, and claimed any damages sought were speculative. Additionally, they maintained they acted reasonably and in good faith and reserved the right to assert further defenses. The defendants sought judgment in their favor, dismissal of the claims, recovery of costs and attorney’s fees, and any other appropriate relief.
Verdict
On June 18, 2025, before Judge Kory Mathewson in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, the jury returned a verdict against defendants Tahir Rasool and Kohsar Logistics, LLC, who had admitted negligence and that it was a substantial factor in causing harm to plaintiff Juan Cristobal Alonzo. The jury awarded $37,461.33 in past medical expenses, $132,000 in past non-economic damages, and $1,028,000 in future non-economic damages, for a total award of $1,160,000 in non-economic damages, in addition to the economic damages.
Court Documents
Court documents are availabel for purchase upon request at [email protected]
