At around 10 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2014, plaintiff Jonathan Soto, 66, a retiree, was asleep on the beach when a pickup truck operated by Stanley Delaney ran over him. Soto subsequently sustained to his back and pelvis. Soto sued Delaney and Delaney’s employer, the City of Long Beach. Soto alleged that Delaney was negligent in the operation of the pickup truck and that the city was liable for Delaney’s actions while he was in the course and scope of his employment. Plaintiff’s counsel contended that Delaney failed to keep a proper lookout for beachgoers while operating the city-owned pickup truck and subsequently ran over Soto. Defense counsel argued that Soto was negligent for sleeping on a known truck route on the beach., Soto sustained fractures of the pelvic ring, and of the L1, L2, L3 and L4 vertebrae. He subsequently underwent open reduction with external fixation on his pelvis. His lumbar fractures did not require surgical intervention. Thus, Soto sought recovery of $253,642 in past medical costs and an unspecified amount for his pain and suffering. Defense counsel contended that Soto made an excellent recovery with no residual symptoms.