Estate of Israel Gonzalez Sanchez v. Fedex

Summary

An Oregon state court jury heard opening statements Tuesday in a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $250 million from FedEx, including $158 in potential punitive damages, for a late-night collision on an icy roadside that left a motorist dead.

Plaintiff attorney James Scherr of Scherr Law told the Multnomah County jury that FedEx is responsible for the 2022 death of Israel Gonzalez Sanchez, arguing the late-night accident on an icy road that took his life was the result of FedEx sending a supposedly undertrained and overworked driver into hazardous conditions.

FedEx denied any liability for the collision, arguing defendant Timothy Gettel had extensive experience working as a commercial truck driver in wintry conditions while also suggesting any potential award to the Sanchez family should be limited to $3 million or less.