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Torts/Personal Injury

Jun. 18, 2026

Trucking company's independent-contractor defense fails in $52M verdict

A Los Angeles County jury awarded $52 million to a motorcyclist severely injured when a semi-truck turned into his path, rejecting the defense argument that the trucking company was insulated from liability because the driver was an independent contractor.

A Los Angeles County jury Tuesday awarded just over $52 million to a motorcyclist critically injured in a 2021 Santa Clarita crash, rejecting an insurer's argument that the trucking company involved bore no liability because the driver was an independent contractor.

The phase one verdict awarded was $45,615,000, and phase two for punitive damages was an additional $6.5 million.

The verdict, secured by attorneys Khail Parris, Curtis Crawford and R. Rex Parris of Parris...

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