On Oct. 2, 2019, claimants’ decedent Paul Rotondaro, 36, a Fire Captain for the State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), was driving east on State Route 140, in Merced County, traveling from the Gustine Fire Station, in Gustine, to the Mariposa Fire Station, in Mariposa. At the same time, David Goddard III was driving west on SR-140 when he attempted a passing maneuver and collided head-on with Rotondaro’s vehicle 0.6 miles east of West Branch Mud Slough bridge. Both Rotondaro and Goddard died in the collision. A non-party motor vehicle that was being passed also sustained property damage, but the driver waived any claim in the matter, other than the property damage. The decedent’s wife, Jennifer Rotondaro, and their two minor children filed a claim against Goddard’s employer, Kings Rehabilitation Center Inc. The Rotondaro family alleged that Goddard was negligent in the operation of his vehicle and that Kings Rehabilitation was liable for Goddard’s actions while he was in the course and scope of his employment., Paul Rotondaro sustained multiple traumatic and died in the collision. Ms. Rotondaro, who was a 41-year-old behavioral analyst at the time of the accident, and her two children, who were ages 2 and 14 at the time of the crash, sought recovery of wrongful death damages.