Romulo Ray Rufo v. United States of America
Opinion
trial_court Opinion
I. Factual Findings
Plaintiffs Romulo Ray Rufo and Trina Rufo (“Plaintiffs”) brought this action against the United States (“the Government”) for injuries stemming from a car accident that Mr. Rufo had with a Government vehicle. At the time of the accident, Mr. Rufo was a 51-year old man living in Long Beach, California with his wife, Mrs. Rufo. See Trial Transcript Day 1, Dkt. # 64 (“Trial Tr. I”) 215:12–13. Mr. Rufo worked at Southern California Edison in their Rosemead office. See id. 215:16–17. Prior to the accident, Mr. Rufo had a medical history that included obesity, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension. See id. 89–90. On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 Mr. Rufo was driving to work along the I-710 freeway. See Trial Transcript Day 2, (“Trial Tr. II”) 11. Mr. Rufo was hit from behind by Special Agent Albert Smith of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Trial Tr. I 222–24. SA Smith was on-duty at the time of the accident. See id. 14:21. Mr. Rufo testified that he stopped his vehicle, looked in his rear-view mirror, and saw SA Smith driving toward him while looking distracted by something in his center console. See id. 223:19–24.