US Federal Government

Los Angeles, CA: (Sep-12-07) In a settlement reached with the Federal Government, the family of nine-year-old Leilani Gutierrez received a nearly $55 million payout. The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed by the family, which accused the government of being liable for a vehicle crash caused by a federal employee, which left Leilani Gutierrez a quadriplegic. June Gutierrez was driving her Chevrolet Suburban south on Newport Boulevard after a Mother's Day outing when Department of the Army employee Michael Leinert ran a red light and broad-sided the sport utility vehicle. US District Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler ruled after an eight-day, nonjury trial that Leilani Gutierrez, who is now 9, will get $54 million and her mother June will get a little more than $1 million. The suit stated that the girl is a quadriplegic dependent on round-the-clock nursing. Legal counsel for the family claimed that she has a life expectancy of no more than 35 years. US Attorney's Office officials stated that the government acknowledged its liability in the accident, and that the judgment would help to some extent ease the pain that the girl is forced to live with. [KTLA NEWS: GOVERNMENT CAR CRASH]

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Published on Sep-16-07