Whittier, the city in Southern California in Los Angeles County, has reached a tentative $28 million settlement deal with the family members of a 61-year-old San Pedro grandmother killed by a large falling tree at her daughter’s wedding party in 2016 at Penn Park.
A lawsuit was filed by the family in April 2017, in Los Angeles Superior Court, later transferred to Norwalk Superior Court, claiming wrongful death and that a dangerous condition of public property existed. The case also involves West Coast Arborists LLP, which inspects and trim trees at Penn Park.
According to the lawsuit, the 80-foot tree fell over at the park in the 13900 block of Penn Street at about 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2016. The family was under the tree, and before they could understand what was happening, the tree fell upon them. The grandmother died at a hospital, and a 3-year-old niece of the bride suffered a traumatic brain injury. Six other people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
An examiner who holds a doctorate in forest pathology and microbiology, on behalf of the plaintiffs, declared that the Blue Gum eucalyptus tree had become “acutely diseased,” and the root damage to the tree was extensive that could have been detected at least five years before the fall.
The city tried seeking dismissal of the lawsuit claiming the incident as a tragic stroke of nature and also has a cross-complaint against the company for indemnity.
There are nineteen plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit. The woman’s husband would receive $2.9 million, and the bride's share is to be $3.3 million, as both suffered physical injuries and have post-traumatic stress disorder like symptoms. Arborists' case is not a part of the settlement deal.
