LaPlante v. Martinez

Summary

A California state court jury heard opening statements Thursday in a lawsuit filed by a man claiming a road construction company is responsible for a laborer hitting his motorcycle with a truck on the way to a work site, and the full trial is being webcast gavel-to-gavel by Courtroom View Network.

Plaintiff Michael LaPlante sued Antelmo Martinez and his employer, Griffith Company, following a 2021 collision that left LaPlante with severe injuries requiring 18 surgeries before ultimately having his leg amputated. The parties agree Martinez is responsible for the collision, however Thursday’s openings focused largely on whether or not Martinez was acting in the scope of his job responsibilities at the time, which would make Griffith vicariously liable for LaPlante’s injuries.