EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A Las Cruces trucking company has been ordered to pay $104 million in a wrongful death case stemming from a 2020 crash in Oklahoma that killed 38-year-old El Pasoan Orlando Robles. <\/p>\n
According to Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. Truck Crash & Injury Attorneys, the crash happened on October 28, 2020, at about 4 a.m. on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, after a truck driver with Mesilla Valley Transportation fell asleep behind the wheel, drifted off the roadway, and slammed into another vehicle with its emergency lights flashing on the shoulder. The impact, which destroyed the sleeper compartment of the vehicle, ultimately led to Robles’ death. <\/p>\n
The $104 million judgment comes after a jury trial began in June, nearly six years after the crash, where attorneys demonstrated that the truck driver had been on his cellphone all night instead of sleeping. <\/p>\n
According to the law firm, an El Paso jury awarded $20 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages to Robles\u2019 son, finding MVT Services and the truck driver, identified as Juan Garcia, responsible for what attorneys described as a preventable collision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe verdict recognizes this tragedy should never have happened,\u201d said Alejandro Acosta III, a partner at Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro and attorney for Robles\u2019 son. \u201cProfessional truck drivers and trucking companies have a responsibility to keep fatigued drivers off the road. When that responsibility is ignored, families pay the price. While no verdict can bring back Orlando, today\u2019s decision holds those responsible accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The law firm said it represented Robles\u2019 only son, who was 7 years old at the time of the crash. Other surviving family members, including Robles\u2019 wife, his estate, his mother and his daughters, were represented separately.<\/p>\n
According to Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers, the $104 million also includes $76,500,000 for Robles’ wife, mother, and five children of Robles who were represented by attorneys David Glasheen and Jason Medina of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers of El Paso. <\/p>\n
According to the attorneys, the child\u2019s mother, Paulina Merino, attended court each day during the trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son lost his dad when he was only 7 years old,\u201d Merino said. \u201cOrlando loved being a father. Our son was his only son, and he was incredibly proud of him. Every milestone, every birthday, every holiday, every achievement will always be missing the person who should have been there. Our son turns 13 years old this week and my heart breaks every time I think about the moments he has missed with his dad and the memories he has to create without his father. I\u2019m grateful the jury recognized what was taken from my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another significant moment during the trial came during Acosta\u2019s cross-examination of MVT\u2019s national chief safety officer. During questioning, the executive testified that \u201cyou don\u2019t need sleep to rest\u201d because company policies did not specifically require drivers to sleep before operating a commercial vehicle. The witness later acknowledged the company\u2019s liability for the crash.<\/p>\n
Attorneys said that while the verdict recognizes the many ways Robles\u2019 death changed his son\u2019s life, it will not replace the loss of his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis verdict is the voice of our community. El Pasoans have made it clear that safety comes first, and trucking companies must follow the regulations that help prevent tragedies like this,” David Glasheen said.<\/p>\n
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