Dolan, founder and Chief Legal Counsel at Dolan Law Firm, was recognized for a series of significant trial victories in complex personal injury cases, including a $17.2 million jury verdict stemming from a devastating crash on Interstate 80. It marks the second time that Dolan has received the award. The annual award recognizes attorneys whose courtroom work stands out among their peers. For Dolan, the recognition reflects a career built on trying highly complex cases and advocating for clients whose lives have been permanently changed by catastrophic injuries.
A Devastating Crash On Interstate 80
A trucking case that Dolan brought to trial, Guzman v. Morning Star, was central to this year’s recognition. The case followed a 2016 crash on Interstate 80 near the Yolo Causeway that left Lethesia Guzman with severe injuries and killed her fiancé, David Miranda.
Guzman’s vehicle was disabled in the third lane of the interstate after being involved in a collision. She and Miranda walked to the edge of the causeway to call 911, leaving their 2-year-old daughter in the back seat. A Morning Star Trucking Company tractor-trailer, which was hauling two 80,000-pound tomato tubs, did not see the vehicle until it was too late.
The truck swerved, braked and sideswiped the vehicle before going onto the shoulder of the road. The two out-of-control tomato tubs struck the couple, throwing them 30 feet below over the bridge rail. Miranda was killed, and Guzman suffered severe injuries that required surgeries to both of her femurs, her vertebrae and foot. She also experienced a subsequent brain injury that was caused by a blood clot.
The 11-week trial resulted in a $17.2 million verdict in favor of Guzman, including $3 million to their daughter for Miranda’s wrongful death. The verdict included $11.2 million in compensatory damages and $6 million in punitive damages, holding both the trucking company and its corporate affiliate accountable.
Dolan said cases like Guzman’s highlight the importance of civil litigation to uncover facts and hold companies accountable when safety failures lead to catastrophic injuries and death.
