Elizabeth Garrett, et al. v. CALTRANS

VERDICT

Trial
09/08/26 – 10/27/26

Summary

A California state court jury rejected a potentially $116 million lawsuit following a long-running trial over allegations a dangerous road condition caused a car accident that resulted in serious injuries to four people.

The San Diego County jury returned their verdict on October 27th in a trial that kicked off on September 9th. Plaintiffs Maria Herrera and Caledonio Hernandez claimed the California Department of Transportation was responsible for the 2023 accident that sent the car carrying Landen Kornacki and Elizabeth Garrett slamming into their pickup truck after taking a supposedly unsafe turn on a state highway.

The four plaintiffs accused CALTRANS of failing to warn drivers to reduce speed ahead of the turn and also allowing an unsafe berm to develop on the gravel shoulder that they claim caused Kornacki’s car to swerve into the path of the oncoming truck, however the defense successfully argued the accident occurred because Kornacki consumed alcohol earlier in the day.

Outcome

Defense Verdict

Case Information
Attorneys
Witnesses

Sessions

PM Session
Openings
4 Chapters
SEP
9
SEP
17
SEP
29
OCT
8
PM Session
Other
2 Chapters
OCT
26
AM Session
Verdict
4 Chapters
OCT
27

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