REYES vs. ALFA LEISURE

A $6,860,000.00 settlement in a wrongful death case involving two 11 year-old boys.  The boys were killed when a tire blew out in the motorhome they were riding in on the way to a camping trip. The tire burst through the wheel well and punctured a propane tank, flooding the motorhome with high pressure burning propane. Case was handled by partner Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr.

Plaintiff's Techical Expert Witnesses:
Metallurgical Engineer, Lawrence Kashar, Ph.D., KASHAR TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.,
5701 West Slauson Avenue, Suite 115, Culver City, CA  90230, (310) 645-4404
Michael Williams, Adventure America RV, Inc.
1064 El Camino, Sacramento, CA 95815, Telephone: (916) 995-0080
Mechanical Engineer, Glen Stivick, Ph.D., P.E., Berkeley Engineering And Research, Inc.
2216 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, (510) 549-3300
Professional Engineer, Donald E. Wandling, P.C. 
923 N. 2nd Street, Ames, IA 50010-3393, (515) 232-0158
Fire Cause & Origin Expert, Ron Hall, Ron Hall & Associates
11151 Sun Center Drive, Suite A, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, (916) 635-3441
Economist, Roberta Spoon, Brodshatzer Wallace Spoon & Yip
555 W. Beech, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 234-4173
Psychiatrist, Calvin Colarusso, M.D.
1020 Prospect Street, Suite 415-B, La Jolla, Ca 92037, (619) 454-2473
Mechanical Engineer, Stephen A. Blewett, P.E., Stephen Blewett & Associates
2406 North Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001, (626) 798-3028

Defendant Insurance: La Mesa: The St. Paul Ins. Co.

Date, Time and Place of Incident(s): 09/03/99, Interstate 8, San Diego, California

Facts and Background:  
On September 3, 1999, JAMES VICARS set out on a camping trip with his brother-in-law, Lewis Brewer, his grandson, Ryan Reyes, and  Ryan’s best friend, eleven (11) year old Anthony Pongracz.  The two men and two boys were traveling east on Interstate 8 in James Vicars’ 1979 Brougham motor home.  James Vicars was driving, Lewis Brewer was riding in the front passenger seat, and the two boys, Ryan Reyes and Anthony Pongracz, were riding in the vehicle’s overhead compartment.  The motor home had a tire blowout.  The flapping left rear tire tread tore open the wheel well.  Directly above the wheel well ran propane lines to a stove and hot water hearer.  These lines separated and a spark ignited the free-flowing pressurized propane.  Within seconds the entire vehicle was engulfed in thick smoke and flames.  Only James Vicars and Lewis Brewer survived the incinerating fire.  Despite their best efforts, the two men were unable to save the two young boys.  Finally, when all hope was lost they stood on the side of the road and watched the motor home burn to the ground with the boys inside.  Mr. Vicars, who had previously lived with chronic lung disease, suffered smoke inhalation from the fire.  His health deteriorated, he lost his will to live, and he died two months after the fire.

Injuries and/or Damages:
Wrongful death of two 11 year old boys, personal injury/emotional distress to grandfather and uncle.

Settlement Amounts: $6,860,000.00

Verdict or Award: Settled

Attorney for client: Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr., Esq. and R.Christian Hulburt, Esq., Hulburt & Bunn

Attorney for defendant:
For ALFA LEISURE, INC., San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 231-8802  Fax:  (619) 233-6039
Jeffrey S. Behar, Esq. & Tina Mangarpan, Esq., Ford Walker Haggerty & Behar
One World Trade Center, Twenty-Seventh Floor, Long Beach, CA 90831-2700, (562)983-2500
Tina:  (562) 983-2507   Fax:  (562)-983-2555

Attorneys for Cross-Defendant/Cross-ComplainantMANCHESTER TANK & EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Mark Vranjes, Esq. &Royce Grimm, Vranjes McCormick & Graham, 550 West “C” Street #1100

Individual Defendants: Alfa Leisure, Inc., Brougham Industries, La Mesa RV, Inc.