Commodity Trucking Companies Seek Court Approval of $11 Million Wrongful Death Settlement

The proposed agreement would disburse an $11 million resolution from two trucking entities to settle claims stemming from a fatal pedestrian accident near a school zone.

• •Two companies are seeking court approval for an $11 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit.
• •The lawsuit was brought by Francisco Lorenzo and Angelina Nicolas after their daughters, Amy (12) and Marlenne (14), were struck by a big rig on April 4, 2019.
• •The accident occurred near 37th Street and Broadway in the Exposition Park area.
• •Marlenne died the day of the accident, and Amy died in the hospital nearly three weeks later.
• •Commodity Trucking Acquisition LLC and Commodity Trucking Holdings LLC filed court papers with Judge Alison Mackenzie.
• •A hearing to consider ratifying the settlement is set for January 20, 2027.
• •The companies' attorneys stated the agreement is meant to avoid the continuing burden and expense of litigation and trial.
• •CTA was hired by Calex through Rivera Trucking to provide trucks for removing excavated dirt from a job site.
• •CTA subcontracted with Los Morales Trucking, and the driver, Stanley Bernard Randle, worked for Los Morales Trucking.
• •Randle admitted he did not see the children and was criminally prosecuted.
• •The plaintiffs allege that trucks hauling debris should not have been permitted to travel the streets during times students were walking, and that there was an inadequate traffic management plan.