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Vincent Galvin (#104448)
Neil M. Kliebenstein (#226060) : | \L E D
BOWMAN AND BROOKE LLP F OUNTY
1741 Technology Drive, Suite 200 ALAMEDA ©
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San Jose, CA 95110-1355 7 2003
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Telephone: (408) 279-5393 NOV 0
Facsimile: (408) 279-5845 ec. Off iClerk
ARTHUR I 2 eiakedlde ——
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Attorneys for Defendants By —{j
ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA, INC., ISUZU
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TRUCK USA, INC., and AMERICAN ISUZU
MOTORS, INC.
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SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
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FOR THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA
ANUM LALANI, a minor, by and through her ) CASE NO. RG03112070
Guardian ad Litem, SHOUKET (RICHARD) ) |
LALANI, ) | ANSWER OF ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA,
) INC., ISUZU TRUCK USA, INC., AND
Plaintiffs, ) AMERICAN ISUZU MOTORS, INC. TO
) PLAINTIFFS COMPLAINT |
vs. )
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ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA, INC., ISUZU)
TRUCK USA, INC., AMERICAN ISUZU) Action Filed: August 15, 2003
MOTORS, INC., ALAMO RENT-A-CAR, INC..,) Trial Date: None
KEN LIGON AND CHRISTINE PAVEL- LIGON,)
and Does | to 250, >)
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Defendants. )
Defendants Isuzu Motors America, Inc. (““ISZA”), Isuzu Truck of America, Inc. (““ITAT’”)
(erroneously identified as Isuzu Truck USA, Inc.) and American Isuzu Motors, Inc. (““AIMI”) appear and
generally and specifically deny each allegation and cause of action contained in the complaint.
ISZA, ITAI and AIMI deny plaintiff sustained any damages due to any act or omission of
ISZA, ITAI, or AIMI.
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
1. The complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against
ISZA, ITAI, and AIMI.
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ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT ol
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2. Plaintiff was negligent in and about the matters and things stated in the complaint,
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and that negligence directly and proximately caused the accident and plaintiff's injuries and damages, if
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any. Under the doctrine of Li v. Yellow Cab, plaintiffs contributory negligence reduces plaintiff's
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damages, if any.
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3. Plaintiff knowingly, voluntarily and of her own free will placed herself in an
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unsafe and dangerous position, and therefore assumed all resulting risks.
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4. Plaintiff failed to use the product described in the complaint in the manner for
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which it was intended, and that misuse directly caused the accident and plaintiff's injuries and damages,
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if any.
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5. The product referred to in the complaint was abused and/or altered in a manner
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which was not reasonably foreseeable. That abuse and alteration directly caused the accident and
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plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any.
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6. Any damages plaintiff claims were either wholly or partially caused by the
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negligence or other culpable conduct of persons or entities other than ISZA, ITAI, and AIMI, and such
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comparative fault reduces the percentage of fault of ISZA, ITAI and AIML, if any.
7. The liability of ISZA, ITAI and AIMI, if any, is several pursuant to California
Civil Code §§ 1430-1432, including but not limited to § 1431.2.
8. Plaintiffs claims against ISZA, ITAI and AIMI are preempted in whole or in part
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by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 15 USCS §1392(d), 1966, as amended, and
regulations promulgated under it.
9. Plaintiff caused or allowed the vehicle and/or other evidence to be concealed, lost,
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altered, damaged, destroyed, or otherwise spoliated. |
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ISZA, ITAI and AIMI pray:
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(1) That plaintiff take nothing by her complaint and that the complaint and the action
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be dismissed;
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(2) For its costs; and
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(3) For such other and further relief as the court deems proper.
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ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT 2
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Dated: November Y 2003 BOWMAN AND BROOKE LLP
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* Vincent Galvin
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Neil M. Kliebenstein
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Attorneys for Defendants —
Isuzu Motors America, Inc., Isuzu Truck USA, Inc.,
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and American Isuzu Motors, Inc.
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ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT
sODMA\PCDOCS\SION 14957\1
. ie addressed
w asa follows:
11, "Attorneys for Plaintiff, Anum Lalani, a’a Attorneys for Alamo Rent-A-Car
| sminor, by. and through her Guardian ad’ me Alan Zacharin, Esq. :
+12 Litem, Shouket. (Richard) Lalani oe cnn ae Andrada & Schanzenbach. ~.:
> Michael B.-Moore, Esq. Panc8 180. Grand Avenue, Suite 900:
13]:~: Charles A: Browning, Esq. a ~ Oakland, ‘CA 94612
|Moore & Browning (510):287:4160 aoa
“1595 Market'Street, Suite 1320 Fax: 510) 2287- 4161 i
15 San Francisco, GA 94105 a |
(415) 956-6500 ~ mea Attorneys. for Ken Ligon ‘and.
16, : “Fax: (415) 956-6580 Christine: Pavel-Ligon: -*.
Timothy.F: Pearce, Esq.
17].° ‘Attorneys for Rubina Lalani Hersh &‘Hersh
|. Gary Moss, Esq: 7 205° 601°Van Ness Avenue #2080
18 3 || . Moss & Hough are San Francisco, CA- 94102 -
‘| 601 Van Ness Avenue #2030 7a See (415) 444). 5544 os en an ee
19 |, San Francisco, CA ; ‘94102 + py SE Sa Fax:(415) 4441. 7586 “ a oy -
*. 20 (415) 399-1110 ee wep Re Ln Be es OE
«|, Fax: (415) 399-1552 ce an OE a Es Wee
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_X_ VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL. I caused such envelope t.to ) be deposited in the mail at San
22 J ose, California; in a sealed envelope with postage fully prepaid thereof. Iam readily familiar...
‘|; with the firm!s business practice for collection and processing. of correspondence; for mailing, with.
23 the United States Postal Service. The. inail'iis deposited: with: ‘the U.S. Postal Service’ on'that same - : i
day i in the ordinary course of business: I ain aware that on “motion of the party served, sérvice. is” °
24 presumed invalid if the postal cancellation dated or postage. meter date isis more’ than’< ne day after ea
25 - the date of deposit for mailing an affidavit.
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labeled, and caused to be deposited into an. a n.cvernight delivery. (F ederal Express; United Paicel <
27 Service, ete. ») receptacle or delivered to. an authorized ¢courier or driver: authorized by. the’ express" -
“service carrier to receive documents; ‘in‘an envelope or a package designated by: the express . ae
28 . service carrier with delivery fees paid: or. provided for, addressed to the person ‘on whom it’ is to: arn
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be ne
be served, at the office address as last given by that person on any document filed in the case and
served on that person; otherwise, at that person's place of residence.
VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION. The document was served on the above
party in this action by causing a true copy of said document to be transmitted by facsimile to the
number listed adjacent to the name on this Proof of Service. The transmission was reported as
complete and without error.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the
foregoing is true and correct and that this declaration was executed on November 4, 2003, at San
Jose, California.
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10 “Evangeline Sabado
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