EL PASO, Texas — A jury has just awarded $104 million in a wrongful death case stemming from a catastrophic commercial trucking crash that killed El Pasoan Orlando Robles, finding MVT Services LLC and its driver, Juan Garcia, responsible for the preventable collision that forever changed the lives of Robles’ surviving family.
The verdict followed a trial that began June 30 in El Paso. Jurors found the crash happened at about 4 a.m. on I-40 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, after Garcia, the truck’s driver and company trainer, fell asleep behind the wheel, drifted off the roadway and slammed into a box truck with its emergency lights flashing on the shoulder. The violent impact destroyed the sleeper compartment where Robles was asleep, killing him.
Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. Truck Crash & Injury Attorneys represented Robles’ only son, who was 7 years old when his father was killed and is now 12. TAC intervened in the case on the child’s behalf through his mother. Other surviving family members–including Robles’ wife, his estate, his mother and his daughters–were represented separately.
The jury awarded $20 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages to Orlando’s son for the devastating losses he suffered as a result of his father’s death, including the loss of love, guidance, and companionship.
“The verdict recognizes this tragedy should never have happened,” said Alejandro Acosta III, partner at TAC and attorney for Orlando’s son. “Professional 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’s decision holds those responsible accountable.”
Throughout the trial, our client’s mother, Paulina Merino, attended court each day, sitting through testimony alongside the legal teams as they faced the trucking company’s corporate representatives, defense attorneys and the driver who was nodding at the wheel.
One of the most emotional moments of the trial came during Paulina’s testimony.
Jurors were shown a photograph of Orlando and his son celebrating Halloween together in 2019. Paulina told the jury that the following year their son had eagerly looked forward to trick-or-treating with his father once again but never got the chance. Orlando died on October 28, 2020, just days before Halloween. Paulina said their son would put on the costume he planned to wear with his dad with the hope Orlando would show up.
The evidence we presented throughout the trial also established that Orlando maintained a close and loving relationship with his son. He was present for his birth and lived with him after his parents separated.
At the time of the crash, Orlando had recently accepted a new position with the trucking company that increased his earnings and his ability to provide for his son.
“My son lost his dad when he was only 7 years old,” said Paulina. “Orlando 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’m grateful the jury recognized what was taken from my son.”
Another significant moment during the trial happened when Acosta cross-examined MVT’s national chief safety officer. During questioning, the executive testified that “you don’t need sleep to rest” because company policies did not specifically require drivers to sleep before operating a commercial vehicle. The witness later acknowledged the company’s liability for the crash.
While the verdict recognizes the many ways Orlando’s death changed his son’s life, it will never fill the void of not having his father.
ACERCA DE TAWNEY, ACOSTA & CHAPARRO P.C.
At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, P.C. Truck Crash & Injury Attorneys, we’re relentless advocates for victims of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Our team of seasoned trial attorneys are driven by an unwavering passion for justice and a fearless commitment to fighting for our clients in court. We don’t just settle–we go to trial, taking cases before juries to secure the maximum results our clients deserve.
With extensive experience in high-stakes litigation across New Mexico, West Texas and Arizona, we focus on complex personal injury cases, including semi-truck collisions, workplace and oilfield injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and serious auto accidents. Please call 1-877-TAC-WINS or visit our website at tacinjurylaw.com/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Veronique Masterson
vmasterson@tacinjurylaw.com
915-433-7407
James Tawney
James Tawney es un dedicado defensor de las víctimas de lesiones en todo el suroeste. Nacido y criado en Arizona, se graduó summa cum laude en la Universidad del Norte de Arizona antes de obtener su título de abogado en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Tecnológica de Texas. En 2016, James cofundó Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., donde sigue centrándose en la protección de los derechos de las personas y familias perjudicadas por negligencia.
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