A court date has been set for the negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2011 against the City of Santa Clarita after a fatal Independence Day accident in 2010.
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Matilde Garnica, 43, died when she was struck by a vehicle that spun out of control onto a curb in front of Islands Restaurant on Valencia Boulevard.
The driver, Melissa Brown, ran a red light and struck Dodge Durango before losing control of her vehicle.
Numerous parties are being sued in addition to the city, including Los Angeles County, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, L.A. County Fire Department, Pyro Spectaculars, and various entities of the Westfield Corporation.
Both sides are currently taking depositions, according to City Attorney Joe Montes.
A final status conference will be held on May 9, 2014 and the court date has been set for May 19.
Brown was not included in the lawsuit. Jeffrey Hacker, attorney representing the Garnica family, said in 2011 that the case had already been resolved with her.
Brown was sentenced to 180 days in county jail, three years of formal probation and 80 hours of community service after she pleaded no contest to one count of vehicular manslaughter.
Brian Hamblet, a partner with Burke, Williams and Sorensen, the law firm representing the city said that he did not believe the city was liable for the accident.
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