Two adult brothers hit by vehicle as they fueled a vehicle that had run out of gas on road shoulder.
The Case
- Case Name: Doe minors v. City of Sacramento and Jonathon Nangle
- Court and Case Number: Sacramento Superior Court / 23CV001023
- Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
- Date Action was Filed: Thursday, June 22, 2023
- Type of Case: Vehicles - vs. Pedestrian, Wrongful Death
- Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Julie Weng-Gutierrez
- Plaintiffs:
Minor children ages 13 and 10
- Defendants:
City of SacramentoJonathon Nangle
- Type of Result: Jury Verdict
The Result
- Gross Verdict or Award: $32,160,957
- Award as to each Defendant:
$32,160,957 jointly as to both defendants.
- Economic Damages:
$2,160,957
- Non-Economic Damages:
$30,000,000
- Trial or Arbitration Time: 3 days
- Jury Deliberation Time: 1 1/4 hour
- Jury Polls: 12-0 on all questions
The Attorneys
- Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Demas Law Group, by John Demas and Tim Spangler, Sacramento.
- Attorney for the Defendant:
Sacramento City Attorney’s Office by Sean Richmond, Sacramento.
The Experts
- Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Laura Ines, economics, Sacramento.
Facts and Background
- Facts and Background:
On December 6, 2022, at approximately 6 a.m., Lionel Rodriguez ran out of gas as he was traveling southbound on I-5, just south of Sutterville Road in Sacramento. He pulled over to the right shoulder of the roadway and activated his emergency flashers. Lionel Rodriguez then called his brother, decedent Juan Carlos Rodriguez, and requested assistance. Juan Carlos Rodriguez was on his way to work, and he diverted to his brother’s location with a gas can. Juan Carlos and Lionel then began to fill the gas tank of the disabled vehicle. The brothers and their vehicles were completely on the road shoulder at all times.
At approximately 6:15 a.m., the defendant driver was traveling southbound on I-5, at approximately 70 m.p.h., in the far-right travel lane. He was in the course and scope of his employment with the City of Sacramento and was heading to his office on Freeport Boulevard. A tanker truck was traveling behind defendant driver and captured his vehicle movements on a dashcam.
On several occasions as the defendant driver traveled toward the Rodriguez brothers’ location, he allowed his vehicle to veer to the right and cross over the fog line. Ultimately, he drifted over the fog line and struck the disabled vehicle as well as Lionel and Juan Carlos Rodriguez. Both brothers were catastrophically injured and Juan Carlos died at the scene.
- Plaintiff's Contentions:
Plaintiffs contended that defendant Nangle was negligent in operating his motor vehicle and that his negligence was the sole cause of decedent's death. Plaintiffs contended that since defendant Nangle was in the course and scope of his employment with defendant City of Sacramento, the city was vicariously responsible for Nangle's negligence.
- Defendant's Contentions:
Defendants stipulated that Nangle was negligent, that his negligence caused decedent's death, that Nangle's negligence was the sole cause of the collision, and that the City of Sacramento was vicariously liable for the death of decedent.
Defendants also stipulated that the past/future economic losses were $2.1M.
Defendants disputed the non-economic damages amount.
Injuries and Other Damages
-
Wrongful death of 33-year-old father of two young children, ages 6 and 10. Loss of past and future economic support and loss of past and future love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support, training and guidance.
Special Damages
- Special Damages Claimed - Past Medical: Past loss of household services was $110,732. Future loss of household services was $162,050.
- Special Damages Claimed - Past Lost Earnings: $413,892
- Special Damages Claimed - Future Lost Earnings: $1,474,284
Demands and Offers
- Plaintiff §998 Demand: $29,999,999
- Plaintiff Final Demand before Trial: $20,000,000
- Defendant Final Offer before Trial: $13,000,000
- Defendant Offer during Trial: $15,000,000