$15 Million Settlement Reached for 85-Year-Old Baldwin Park Man in Bus Accident

By Bill Hetherman, City News Service

An 85-year-old Baldwin Park man who lost his right leg below the knee after being struck by a public transit bus reached a $15 million settlement with the bus owners today.

The accord was reached just moments before a Los Angeles Superior Court jury reached a verdict in the case. Judge Marc Marmaro allowed the verdict to be read and the panel found Julio Huayanca was entitled to more than $17 million from Southland Transit Inc.

However, the $15 million settlement will stand, said one of Huayanca's lawyers, Spencer Lucas. The resolution also spares Southland Transit from having to pay any punitive damages even though the jury found the company acted with malice.

Lucas said the bus driver was cited by police and fired by the company.

Huaynaca has been in convalescent care since last November, though his attorneys said during the trial that they hoped he could live with relatives and get home nursing services.

"We're happy with the verdict and the fact that Julio will now get the support and independence he needs," said Brian Panish, another of Huayanca's lawyers.

Attorney Gary Hamblet, on behalf of Southland Transit, said he was happy that a settlement could be reached.

Southland Transit Southland Transit -- a private company that contracts with the city of Baldwin Park to provide fixed-route local bus service -- admitted liability and the jury was only asked to determine Huaynaca's damages.

Huaynaca was 84 at the time of the accident, which occurred about 5 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2012, while he was walking south in a crosswalk on Ramona Boulevard at Cesar Chavez Drive in Baldwin Park. He was hospitalized for 10 weeks and had seven surgeries, the last to amputate his right leg.

A Baldwin Park police officer who was on routine patrol witnessed what happened to Huayanca, who has five children and 11 grandchildren.

Before the accident, he was an active person who attended many social functions, included dances, and flew often to his native Peru, his attorneys said.