A newsletter roundup of recent news stories, including pedestrian deaths in San Diego, a lawsuit against USC over a fatal car crash, and a lawsuit against Toyota over cars that unexpectedly accelerate.

1. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 9/28/16
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Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
1. Audit raises alarm on pedestrian deaths
Adapted from L.A. Times, 9/17/16
Over the past fifteen years, 270 pedestrians died on San Diego’s streets, according to a city audit. Sixty-six
pedestrians died from 2013 to 2015, the deadliest period since 2001. Compared to other large U.S. cities, San
Diego and Los Angeles tied for tenth place, with a rate of 1.79 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people.
2. USC faces suit after fatal crash
Adapted from L.A. Times, 9/22/16
The parents of a USC student killed in a car crash with a public safety officer have filed suit against both the
officer and the university. Twenty-three year-old Kelsey Dresser died a day after the collision. The lawsuit
accuses USC’s Department of Public Safety of failing to properly train and supervise public safety officer Miguel
Guerra. At the time of the crash, the crash data storage system in Guerra’s car allegedly showed he was driving
at 69 miles-per-hour (mph) in a 25-mph zone. In addition, the lawsuit alleges Guerra did not have his lights or
siren activated. Plaintiff lawyer Craig McClellan, who represents Jill and Michael Dresser, further alleged Guerra
was sleep deprived due to working two consecutive graveyard shifts. Prosecutors have filed a misdemeanor
charge against Guerra over the incident.
3. Woman paralyzed by fallen branch files claims with SF
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 9/20/16
Attorney Jeremy Cloyd of The Veen Firm PC has filed four claims with San Francisco city and country on
behalf of a woman paralyzed by a falling tree branch. Emma Zhou was at a city park with her children when she
was hit by a 100-branch that severed her spinal cord. In public statements, San Francisco city called the incident
an unfortunate accident. Plaintiff attorney Cloyd blamed improper tree pruning, specifically faulting a practice
known as tree topping. Tree topping involves removing the upper trunk of trees, causing the tree to grow large
stubs or branches. Cloyd said he expected the city and the county to decline the claims, at which point his client
intends to sue.
4. Acceleration claims to go to trial.
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 9/21/16
A lawsuit against Toyota Motor Co. over the alleged unintentional acceleration of its vehicles will go to trial
next year. The automaker had attempted to squash the claim, arguing in a motion for summary judgement that
the statute of limitations on the claim had expired. The plaintiff originally filed suit in 2010 over a 2005 crash.
The plaintiff alleged that, despite stepping on the brakes once or twice, her Lexus accelerated, crashing into
another vehicle and causing her injuries. A police officer, the woman’s dealer, and her insurance company all
assured her there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, according to the suit. Plaintiff Attorney David C. Wright
of McCune Wright LLP said the woman did not think she had a case until she saw a 2010 news story about
multiple lawsuits alleging some of Toyota’s cars would unexpectedly accelerate. Toyota is facing a series of
coordinated cases over alleged unintentional acceleration. In 2014, Toyota paid $1.2 billion to resolve a criminal
probe by the federal government over the issue.

2. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 9/28/16
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
5. Oral infection link suspected to dental office
Adapted from L.A. Times, 9/16/16
Orange County health officials are warning parents about an outbreak of oral infections that appear to be
linked to Children’s Dental Group in Anaheim, California. Thus far, eight children have showed signs of oral
cellulitis, with respiratory infections or dental abscesses. Seven of the children were eventually hospitalized.
Officials are still trying to reach the parents of about 500 children who received certain procedures at the facility
between May 3 and Aug. 2.
6. Police encounters yield big settlements
Adapted from L.A. Times, 9/21/16
Across the county, police departments continue to face lawsuits from families who allege their relatives’
deaths were due to police wrongdoing or negligence. Four recent settlements in Waller County, Texas; Chicago;
Cleveland; and New York City total $17.35 million. The cases also reveal the wide range of incidents that can
lead to lawsuits against police. Two of the settlements involved the deaths of people who were in custody, one
involved the fatal shooting of a child playing with a toy gun, while the final case involved a man who died after
an officer fired into a darkened stairwell and the bullet ricocheted.
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