A former Southern California Edison employee, Romulo Ray Rufo, won a $4.1 million negligence lawsuit against a U.S Drug Enforcement Administration agent years after sustaining brain injury due to a car accident involving the on-duty government agent.

The court ruling was issued on Monday, March 2, by the U.S district judge, Phillip S. Guitierrez, who found the drug enforcement officer, Albert Smith, guilty of negligence, which led to the permanent disability of the Long Beach resident.

The incident happened in March 2016 after the special agent, who was on duty at the time, collided into the rear of a vehicle driven by the 55-year-old victim. The impact of the crash resulted in a mild traumatic brain injury which has rendered Rufo permanently disabled.

The lawsuit was filed by the crash victim and his wife about two years ago, citing a single cause of action for negligence, while requesting monetary settlement for damages accrued, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and the wife’s loss of her husband’s companionship.

According to the victim’s testament, before the accident happened, he stopped his vehicle and looked in his rear-view mirror in time to see the DEA official driving towards him with his eyes fixed downwards rather than on the road.

The attorney representing the defendant, Eric Traut, confirmed that the government proposed an out-of-court settlement, offering the Long Beach resident’s family the sum of $900,000 prior to the trial.

The legal representative added that although the $4.1 million verdict would serve as a needed compensation and monetary relief to the family, his client would gladly return it in exchange for his former life.

Please follow and like us: