The Demas Law Group announced last week that it had reached a $9.75 million settlement with the City of Sacramento for the death of Baby Raiden Saechao, an infant, in 2013. It is believed to be the largest infant death-related settlement in state history.
Founding partner John Demas was retained by the family of 11-month-old Raden Saechao, who was critically injured when his father’s car was rear-ended by a Sacramento Police Officer driving an unmarked car. Baby Raiden died of his injuries five days later while in hospital care.
The Saechao family took their case to civil court because criminal charges were not filed against the officer who caused the crash. The case was Superior Court of the State of California, County of Sacramento, Saechao v. City of Sacramento, et al., 34-2014-00167131.
“The police officer rear ended a car not because he was in pursuit but because he was distracted or simply not paying attention,” said Demas. “As a community, we hold police officers to higher standard, and his negligence caused a family to suffer a profound and permanent loss.”
According to a press release issued by the Demas Law Group, the Saechaos plan to donate a portion of the settlement to raise awareness about the danger of distracted driving and cell phone use behind the wheel.
“With the settlement, the City acknowledged that police officers who are trained in protecting the safety and well being of people can and should be held accountable when their reckless and careless behavior causes injury to those they are supposed to protect,” said Demas.
For more about the settlement, visit Demas Law Group.