Taylor & Ring Secures $61.7 Million Verdict for Victims of Deadly Car Chase

The LA Times has reported that on December 14th, six long years after the death of a teen in a civilian car chase, Taylor and Ring secured a verdict in the amount of $61.7 million to the victim’s parents.

In Inglewood, the L.A. County Superior Court jury granted $23.25 million in compensatory damages to Julie Esphorst for the wrongful death of her son and $36.5 million to Jesse Esphorst Sr. for his wrongful death damages and personal injuries.

On March 7, 2017, the Esphorsts’ 16-year-old son, Jesse Esphorst Jr., and his father were involved in a tragic incident. Returning from a baseball game, their minivan was hit by two vehicles engaged in a chase at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Crest Road in Torrance. Jesse’s father sustained severe injuries, and tragically, Jesse Jr. lost his life that night.

The drivers in the chase were Tung Ming of Rancho Palos Verdes and Darryl Leander Hicks of Los Angeles. Ming witnessed Hicks make an illegal U-turn at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Crest Rd in Rolling Hills Estates. Ming got “pissed” and attempted to speed around Hicks. A minor collision occurred between the two vehicles. Hicks fled and Ming gave chase. During the chase, Ming called 911. The operator asked Ming for the fleeing vehicle’s license plate number. Ming continued the pursuit reaching speeds of nearly 120 mph.

At the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Crest Rd, both Hicks and Ming ran the red light and struck the Esphorst minivan which was making a legal left-hand turn. Hicks fled the scene, but Ming stayed as his vehicle was disabled. The jury assigned 95% of the fault to Ming and 5% to Hicks. The jury also ruled that Hicks is responsible for paying an additional $18,000 in punitive damages, and Ming an extra $2 million in punitive damages.

Ming and Hicks faced convictions for felony vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. Hicks received an 11-year prison sentence, while Ming was sentenced to over two years.

In an emailed testament, our attorney Robert Clayton spoke eloquently about the horrific accident and loss of life: “Jesse was loved by everyone who knew him and not a day goes by that his family, or his community don’t grieve this tragic loss. [The] verdict gives his family some support they need to continue to navigate their lives while dealing with this unimaginable tragedy.”

Taylor and Ring are leaders when it comes to representing victims of car accidents

Car accidents happen all too often, leaving victims with catastrophic injuries. In worst case scenarios, like the Esphorst case, car accidents end lives. In these cases, whether we are seeking compensation for medical treatment, pain and suffering, or funeral costs, we are fighting for the rights of those who have been harmed grievously by someone else’s negligence. We have long represented clients who have found themselves in these situations, and we have a long list of securing settlements in their favor.

A few of our successes include:

• $18.6M verdict in a case where a company president allowed his wife to drive a company-owned vehicle four days after the wife failed her DMV road exam; the wife then went on to cause a serious accident injuring a motorcyclist. Mallabo v. Wan Hai Lines (America)
• $14.4M verdict when an improperly serviced asphalt truck caused a chain collision on the freeway; two died and a surviving passenger suffered brain damage. Pascua/White vs. Industrial Asphalt
• $12.9M verdict for a truck driver who was seriously injured when the defective pallet jack toppled over on him at a delivery location. Munoz vs. Sierra Autocars, Inc.
• $10M settlement for a disputed liability motorcycle crash resulting in a below-the-knee amputation of the plaintiff.
• $5.6M settlement for a delivery truck driver who was injured while making a delivery to an auto dealership.
• $5M settlement for a passenger on a motorcycle who was left paralyzed after an accident with a car in a construction zone.
• $4.3M settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle driven by a school teacher while in the “course & scope” of her employment, causing the pedestrian traumatic brain injury.
• $4M verdict for a vehicular accident with a city-owned truck, which caused brain damage to plaintiff.

Dealing with the injuries of an accident caused by someone’s negligence is hard enough. It is even harder to deal with the loss of a loved one. If you or someone you love has been in a car accident caused by someone else’s reckless driving, you deserve compensation and justice. Our Los Angeles attorneys are here to represent you and secure for you the restitution you deserve. Contact Taylor & Ring today by calling us or using our contact form for a free consultation with an experienced attorney. We have offices in Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach. We also proudly serve all of Southern California.