Attorney cites "clear message to trucking industry"
FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A jury in the Superior Court of Fresno County, California, returned a $3.5 million verdict today in favor of the family of Amarjit Khunkhun, who died in March 2010 in a truck fire that occurred on 1-40 W near San Jon, New Mexico. A transmission leak caused the fire underneath the cab of the truck that Khunkhun had been driving. The truck was owned by Jaswinder Gill, d/b/a GMG Trucking of Fresno.
The evidence established that the trucking company and its co-owner/operator, Avtar Gill, also of Fresno, had violated federal regulations in their maintenance and inspection of the truck. The jury found that the acts or omissions of the defendants were negligent, and as a result, found the defendants liable for $3.5 million. The verdict was reduced by 15 percent as a result of jury's finding that Khunkhun was comparatively negligent.
"Today a Fresno jury sent a clear message to the trucking industry that those companies who choose not to follow safety rules will be held accountable for the harm that they cause," said Bill Robins, of Heard Robins Cloud, LLP's Santa Monica office, lead trial attorney on the case. "On behalf of the family, our hope is that the jury's message will save lives in California and elsewhere, so that others will not suffer this tremendous loss."
Robins tried the case with plaintiff attorneys Hector Longoria, of the Houston, Texas, office of Heard Robins Cloud LLP, and Gurinder S. Mann of the Mann Law Firm, San Jose, California. The trucking company had wrongfully accused the innocent driver for starting the fire inside the cab.
"The Khunkhun family is grateful to the Jury in vindicating the driver, Amarjit Khunkhun," said Mann.
Case Information:
No. 12CECG 00922 AMS
About Heard Robins Cloud, LLP
Heard Robins Cloud, LLP is a law firm with offices in California, Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana, specializing in representing plaintiffs in cases involving catastrophic injury, defective pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and toxic torts. www.heardrobins.com
About the Mann Law Firm
The Mann Law Firm is a Personal Injury/Wrongful Death firm based in San Jose, California.
www.TheMannLawFirm.com
Contact:
Bill Robins
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Phone: (310) 929-4200