The Case

• Case Name: Kenneth Walker v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; Soul Gomez; et al.
• Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / 22STCV33511
• Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, September 22, 2025
• Date Action was Filed: Friday, October 14, 2022
• Type of Case: Negligence, Vehicles - Auto vs. Auto, Vehicles - Intersection, Vehicles - Left Turn
• Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Michael B. Harwin
• Plaintiffs:
  Kenneth Walker, musician and performer
• Defendants:
  County of Los Angles
  Saul Gomez (Name was originally spelled incorrectly on complaint.)
• Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

• Gross Verdict or Award: $1,269,020
• Contributory/Comparative Negligence: None
• Economic Damages: Past: $198,000
• Non-Economic Damages: Past: $321,020
• Future: $750,000

The Attorneys

• Attorney for the Plaintiff:

  Moaddel Kremer & Gerome LLP by Brent Gerome and Carl Kremer, Los Angeles.

  Victory Law Group, LLP by Erik Velie, Newhall.

• Attorney for the Defendant:

  Seki, Nishimura & Watase, PLC by Sara Greco and Kari Kadomatsu, Los Angeles.

The Experts

• Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):

  Stepan Kasimian, M.D., spine surgery. (Treating physician.)

  Aaron Coppelson, M.D., physical medicine and rehabilitation. (Treating physician.)

  Andrew Morris, DC, medical billing.

• Defendant's Medical Expert(s): 
• Thomas Grogan, M.D., orthopedic surgery.
• Nancy Michalski, RN, medical billing.
• Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):

  None.

• Defendant's Technical Expert(s):

  Henricus Jansen, engineering and accident reconstruction.

Facts and Background

• Facts and Background: Plaintiff, 35 years old, suffered serious injury in an automobile crash at the intersection of Haas Ave and Century Blvd.However, as plaintiff began to clear the vehicle stopped within the fast lane, there suddenly appeared in the center two-way turn lane a  vehicle driven by defendant Saul Gomez, a detective with defendant County of Los Angeles' Sheriffs Department, in an unmarked emergency response vehicle without light or siren activated.  Because of defendant's rate of speed, the collision could not be avoided, resulting in a near head-on collision in the center turn lane.
• Traffic on Century Blvd was stopped when plaintiff approached on Haas Ave and came to a stop at the stop sign controlling his lane of travel into the intersection. Century Blvd was a protected highway at the intersection and was not controlled by any traffic devices. However, traffic was heavy and all vehicles were stopped on Century Blvd. Those vehicles on Century Blvd left a gap at the intersection, as commonly instructed by road markings, and those drivers motioned to plaintiff to make his left turn across the front of their vehicles. Plaintiff entered the intersection and slowly crossed all three lanes of westbound travel, all the while making eye contact with the other drivers to confirm he was clear to continue.
• Plaintiff's Contentions: That defendant driver violated Vehicle Code section 21460.5 by traveling 30 mph for more than 200 feet within the two-way left turn lane, circumventing stropped traffic and intending on crossing the intersection. Vehicle Code section 21052 did not excuse defendant's lane-use violation because defendant failed to activate his emergency lights and siren.
• Defendant's Contentions: That defendant did not violate vehicle codes because defendant was approaching an active crime scene. That plaintiff violated Vehicle Code section 21801 by failing to yield to defendant upon entering the intersection after stopping at the stop-sign.

Injuries and Other Damages

• Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff: Primary injury to the lower back causing low back pain with radiculopathy into the left leg and foot. Formal diagnosis included lateral recess stenosis and foraminal stenosis, treated with lumbar epidural injections and, ultimately, a microdecompression lumbar spine surgery.

Special Damages

• Special Damages Claimed - Past Medical: $232,399.53
• Special Damages Claimed - Future Medical: None
• Special Damages Claimed - Past Lost Earnings: None
• Special Damages Claimed - Future Lost Earnings: None

Demands and Offers

• Plaintiff §998 Demand: $750,000 at start of expert discovery.
• Defendant Offer during Trial: $100,000 - informal verbal offer right before trial.