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SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA
HONORABLE LORI E. PEGG – DEPARTMENT 5
Clerk: E. De Santiago Date: 5/6/2024
Reporter: Andrea Ignacio CSR# 9830 Case Number: 19CV346663
Attorneys for Plaintiffs:
Sz Huang, et al., Doris Cheng, Mark Fong,
Michael Kelly, Andrew McDevitt,
Plaintiffs, Seema Bhatt, Nick Vardeh
vs.
State of California, Department of Transportation, Attorneys for Def. State of CA, etc.:
(AKA: Caltrans), Landa Low, Rosemary Love,
Philip DiBoise
Defendant.
_____________________ DAY 20 – Jury Trial __ ____ _______
8:49 am Outside the presence of the Jury, Court is in session with all parties present. The Plaintiff is
present. Plaintiff’s attorney Bhatt is not present. Counsel address the issue of Plaintiff’s exhibits
2115 through 2119 regarding witness Kane Wong. Court states it will proceed at this time with
an EC 402 Hearing on the issue,
9:09 am Kane Wong resumes the stand, still under oath.
Defendant’s attorney Love examines the witness.
9:23 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly examines the witness.
9:42 am Court examine the witness.
9:45 am Court finds Plaintiff’s exhibits 2119, 2117 and 2118 are not relevant and will not come in. Court
finds Plaintiff’s exhibits 2115 and 2116 can come in as official records.
9:46 am Court goes off the record momentarily.
9:49 am Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and three alternate jurors.
Juror #8 is not present. Court addresses the Jury and informs them that Juror #8 has been
excused this morning. Court has Alternate Juror #2 take seat 8 and shall now be Juror #8.
Kane Wong resumes the stand, still under oath.
Defendant’s attorney Love continues direct examination.
The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Defendant:
Defendant’s exhibit 2115 – TMC Logs 3/12/2018
Defendant’s exhibit 2116 – TMC Logs 3/13/2018
10:10 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly conducts re-cross examination.
10:22 am Defendant’s attorney Love conducts redirect examination.
10:24 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly conducts further re-cross examination.
10:25 am (not reported) A sidebar conference is held.
10:27 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly continues further re-cross examination.
Court admits Plaintiff’s exhibit 210 into evidence.
10:31 am The witness is excused and steps down from the stand.
Court reads a jury instruction, as stated.
The following exhibit is marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation
Case # 19CV346663
Page 1 of 4
Plaintiff’s exhibit 421 – Defendant Caltrans’ Responses to Plaintiffs’ Request for Admissions,
Set Two, dated 10/21/20.
10:37 am Nicole Tsai, is sworn and takes the stand on behalf of the Plaintiffs.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng conducts direct examination.
The following exhibit is marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
Plaintiff’s exhibit 438F – One photograph of the Huang family at Chinese New Year.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 438G – One photograph of Sevonne and Walter Huang.
10:53 am Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the morning break.
11:12 am Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors.
Nicole Tsai resumes the stand, still under oath.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination.
The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381B – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by
Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381C – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by
Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381D – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by
Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381E – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by
Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381F – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by
Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381G – One photograph of Walter and his family.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381H – One photograph of Walter, his family, and others.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381I – One photograph of Walter and his family.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381J – One photograph of Walter and his family.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381K – One photograph of Walter and Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381L – One photograph of Walter and Tristan.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381M – One photograph of Walter, his family, and others.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381N – One photograph of Walter and Tristan.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381O – One photograph of Walter and Sevonne.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381P – One photograph of Walter and Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Q – One photograph of Walter and Tristan.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381R – One photograph of Walter and Trinity.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381S – One photograph of Walter and his family.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381T – One photograph of Walter and Tristan.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381U – One photograph of Walter and his family.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381V – One photograph of Walter and his friends.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381W – One photograph of Walter and his friends.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381X – One photograph of Walter, Sevonne, and friends.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Y – One photograph of a card Walter made for his child.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Z – One photograph of a card Walter made for his child.
Court admits Plaintiff’s exhibit 381A.
11:34 am There being no cross examination, the witness is excused and steps down from the stand.
Court reads a jury instruction, as stated.
May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation
Case # 19CV346663
Page 2 of 4
11:36 am (not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng plays a video deposition of Lars Hans Reinhart.
11:38 am (not reported) A sidebar conference is held.
11:40 am (not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues to play the video deposition.
11:54 am Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the lunch break.
1:31 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Court is in session with all parties present. Plaintiff’s attorney
Cheng addresses the issue of admitting exhibits into evidence.
The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
Plaintiff’s exhibit 299 – Event Data Record crash data from Walter Huang’s Model X. Report
created 03/28/18.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 200 – Dashcam footage taken 03/23/18, hours before the accident.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 349 – Compilation of 75 photographs from the scene of the accident, dated
03/23/18.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 352 – Dashcam footage of Officer Garcia’s vehicle at the time of impact.
Dated 03/23/18.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 353 – Dashcam footage of Officer Garcia’s vehicle at the time of impact.
Dated 03/23/18.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 441 – Arial coverage of the wreck. Dated 03/23/18.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 442 – NBC footage from the wreck from the ground. Dated 03/23/18.
1:40 pm Court goes off the record momentarily.
1:43 pm Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors.
(not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues to play the video deposition of Lars Hans
Reinhart.
2:03 pm Court reads a jury instruction, as stated.
The following exhibits are marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.3 – Side view of the Exponent crash test video.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.7 – Aerial view of the Exponent crash test video.
Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.8 – Driver view of the Exponent crash test video.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng plays Plaintiff’s exhibits 437.3, 437.7 and 437.8.
2:05 pm Rene A. Castaneda, Consulting Mechanical Engineer, is sworn and takes the stand on behalf
of the Plaintiffs.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng examines the witness.
2:21 pm Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng offers the witness as an expert in the areas of accident reconstruction
and vehicle dynamics.
Court qualifies the witness as an expert in the requested areas.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng conducts direct examination.
3:09 pm Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the afternoon break.
3:10 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Defense attorney Love requests a chart written on the white
board be admitted into evidence. Court and counsel briefly discuss the matter.
3:11 pm Court is in recess.
3:30 pm Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors.
Rene A. Castaneda resumes the stand, still under oath.
Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination.
3:53 pm (not reported) A sidebar conference is held.
3:54 pm Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination.
The following exhibit is marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs:
May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation
Case # 19CV346663
Page 3 of 4
Plaintiff’s exhibit 443 – Video of Camera View-04 Karco attenuator crash of the Dodge Ram,
including analysis therewith.
4:40 pm Court admonishes and excuses the Jury until Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 9:00 am.
4:41 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Court addresses the issue of Defendant’s request to admit
Defendant’s exhibit 2195. Court denies the request.
4:42 pm Court is in recess.
May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation
Case # 19CV346663
Page 4 of 4
Preview
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA HONORABLE LORI E. PEGG – DEPARTMENT 5 Clerk: E. De Santiago Date: 5/6/2024 Reporter: Andrea Ignacio CSR# 9830 Case Number: 19CV346663 Attorneys for Plaintiffs: Sz Huang, et al., Doris Cheng, Mark Fong, Michael Kelly, Andrew McDevitt, Plaintiffs, Seema Bhatt, Nick Vardeh vs. State of California, Department of Transportation, Attorneys for Def. State of CA, etc.: (AKA: Caltrans), Landa Low, Rosemary Love, Philip DiBoise Defendant. _____________________ DAY 20 – Jury Trial __ ____ _______ 8:49 am Outside the presence of the Jury, Court is in session with all parties present. The Plaintiff is present. Plaintiff’s attorney Bhatt is not present. Counsel address the issue of Plaintiff’s exhibits 2115 through 2119 regarding witness Kane Wong. Court states it will proceed at this time with an EC 402 Hearing on the issue, 9:09 am Kane Wong resumes the stand, still under oath. Defendant’s attorney Love examines the witness. 9:23 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly examines the witness. 9:42 am Court examine the witness. 9:45 am Court finds Plaintiff’s exhibits 2119, 2117 and 2118 are not relevant and will not come in. Court finds Plaintiff’s exhibits 2115 and 2116 can come in as official records. 9:46 am Court goes off the record momentarily. 9:49 am Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and three alternate jurors. Juror #8 is not present. Court addresses the Jury and informs them that Juror #8 has been excused this morning. Court has Alternate Juror #2 take seat 8 and shall now be Juror #8. Kane Wong resumes the stand, still under oath. Defendant’s attorney Love continues direct examination. The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Defendant: Defendant’s exhibit 2115 – TMC Logs 3/12/2018 Defendant’s exhibit 2116 – TMC Logs 3/13/2018 10:10 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly conducts re-cross examination. 10:22 am Defendant’s attorney Love conducts redirect examination. 10:24 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly conducts further re-cross examination. 10:25 am (not reported) A sidebar conference is held. 10:27 am Plaintiff’s attorney Kelly continues further re-cross examination. Court admits Plaintiff’s exhibit 210 into evidence. 10:31 am The witness is excused and steps down from the stand. Court reads a jury instruction, as stated. The following exhibit is marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs: May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation Case # 19CV346663 Page 1 of 4 Plaintiff’s exhibit 421 – Defendant Caltrans’ Responses to Plaintiffs’ Request for Admissions, Set Two, dated 10/21/20. 10:37 am Nicole Tsai, is sworn and takes the stand on behalf of the Plaintiffs. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng conducts direct examination. The following exhibit is marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs: Plaintiff’s exhibit 438F – One photograph of the Huang family at Chinese New Year. Plaintiff’s exhibit 438G – One photograph of Sevonne and Walter Huang. 10:53 am Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the morning break. 11:12 am Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors. Nicole Tsai resumes the stand, still under oath. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination. The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs: Plaintiff’s exhibit 381B – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381C – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381D – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381E – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381F – One photograph of a drawing of Walter Huang and Trinity, drawn by Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381G – One photograph of Walter and his family. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381H – One photograph of Walter, his family, and others. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381I – One photograph of Walter and his family. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381J – One photograph of Walter and his family. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381K – One photograph of Walter and Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381L – One photograph of Walter and Tristan. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381M – One photograph of Walter, his family, and others. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381N – One photograph of Walter and Tristan. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381O – One photograph of Walter and Sevonne. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381P – One photograph of Walter and Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Q – One photograph of Walter and Tristan. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381R – One photograph of Walter and Trinity. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381S – One photograph of Walter and his family. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381T – One photograph of Walter and Tristan. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381U – One photograph of Walter and his family. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381V – One photograph of Walter and his friends. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381W – One photograph of Walter and his friends. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381X – One photograph of Walter, Sevonne, and friends. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Y – One photograph of a card Walter made for his child. Plaintiff’s exhibit 381Z – One photograph of a card Walter made for his child. Court admits Plaintiff’s exhibit 381A. 11:34 am There being no cross examination, the witness is excused and steps down from the stand. Court reads a jury instruction, as stated. May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation Case # 19CV346663 Page 2 of 4 11:36 am (not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng plays a video deposition of Lars Hans Reinhart. 11:38 am (not reported) A sidebar conference is held. 11:40 am (not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues to play the video deposition. 11:54 am Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the lunch break. 1:31 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Court is in session with all parties present. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng addresses the issue of admitting exhibits into evidence. The following exhibits are marked and admitted into evidence on behalf of the Plaintiffs: Plaintiff’s exhibit 299 – Event Data Record crash data from Walter Huang’s Model X. Report created 03/28/18. Plaintiff’s exhibit 200 – Dashcam footage taken 03/23/18, hours before the accident. Plaintiff’s exhibit 349 – Compilation of 75 photographs from the scene of the accident, dated 03/23/18. Plaintiff’s exhibit 352 – Dashcam footage of Officer Garcia’s vehicle at the time of impact. Dated 03/23/18. Plaintiff’s exhibit 353 – Dashcam footage of Officer Garcia’s vehicle at the time of impact. Dated 03/23/18. Plaintiff’s exhibit 441 – Arial coverage of the wreck. Dated 03/23/18. Plaintiff’s exhibit 442 – NBC footage from the wreck from the ground. Dated 03/23/18. 1:40 pm Court goes off the record momentarily. 1:43 pm Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors. (not reported) Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues to play the video deposition of Lars Hans Reinhart. 2:03 pm Court reads a jury instruction, as stated. The following exhibits are marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs: Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.3 – Side view of the Exponent crash test video. Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.7 – Aerial view of the Exponent crash test video. Plaintiff’s exhibit 437.8 – Driver view of the Exponent crash test video. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng plays Plaintiff’s exhibits 437.3, 437.7 and 437.8. 2:05 pm Rene A. Castaneda, Consulting Mechanical Engineer, is sworn and takes the stand on behalf of the Plaintiffs. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng examines the witness. 2:21 pm Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng offers the witness as an expert in the areas of accident reconstruction and vehicle dynamics. Court qualifies the witness as an expert in the requested areas. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng conducts direct examination. 3:09 pm Court admonishes and excuses the Jury for the afternoon break. 3:10 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Defense attorney Love requests a chart written on the white board be admitted into evidence. Court and counsel briefly discuss the matter. 3:11 pm Court is in recess. 3:30 pm Court is in session with all above parties present, including the Jury and two alternate jurors. Rene A. Castaneda resumes the stand, still under oath. Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination. 3:53 pm (not reported) A sidebar conference is held. 3:54 pm Plaintiff’s attorney Cheng continues direct examination. The following exhibit is marked for identification on behalf of the Plaintiffs: May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation Case # 19CV346663 Page 3 of 4 Plaintiff’s exhibit 443 – Video of Camera View-04 Karco attenuator crash of the Dodge Ram, including analysis therewith. 4:40 pm Court admonishes and excuses the Jury until Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 9:00 am. 4:41 pm Outside the presence of the Jury, Court addresses the issue of Defendant’s request to admit Defendant’s exhibit 2195. Court denies the request. 4:42 pm Court is in recess. May 6, 2024 Huang vs. State of California, Dept. of Transportation Case # 19CV346663 Page 4 of 4