Date: July 1, 2006
Location: Northeast 188th Avenue and Glisan Street, Gresham, OR
Type: Car Accident
Outcome: One death, two major injuries
Names: Marino Sanchez-Sanchez, Joshua Linstrom, Jose Bahena, Diego Martinez
Marino Sanchez-Sanchez, a 29-year-old father of two, was killed nearly three years ago when Gresham police officer Joshua Linstrom ran a stop sign at the intersection of NE 188th Ave and Glisan St. and crashed into a mini-van of which Sanchez-Sanchez was a passenger. Linstrom had apparently failed to see the stop sign because it was obscured by cherry tree branches.
On Tuesday, The Gresham Outlook announced that the city of Gresham will pay $500,000 total in settlement money to the family of Sanchez-Sanchez as well as the two other men in the vehicle, Diego Martinez (driver) and Joe Bahena, who survived the crash with injuries. Multnomah County will pay $50,000, and the homeowners of the property on which the cherry tree was located will pay $150,000 through their homeowners’ insurance. Multnomah County was held partly responsible for the crash since it had an agreement with Gresham to maintain vegetation along the roadway. Homeowners Mark and Patricia Fletcher were sued for failing to prune the tree branches that obscured the stop sign.
Though the settlement money is small consolation in the face of losing a husband and a father, it does mean that Marino’s children will have college funds set up and Marino’s wife will be amply supported. With the help of Brendan Dummigan, an experienced and dedicated attorney, the Sanchez-Sanchez family will not have to face financial destitution and poverty. It is fortunate that Dummigan knew to sue every possible defendant in this case, and within the tort claim deadline (180 days). Had he not, the Sanchez-Sanchezs may have ended up with only a fraction of the settlement money they rightfully deserved.
Still, there is no amount of money that could ever truly compensate the Sanchez-Sanchez family for their tragic loss. Our hearts go out to everyone who knew and loved Marino, and especially Marino’s children, who are 5 and 7 years old and will have to grow up without a father. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
As of the date we posted this blog, Shulman DuBois LLC does not represent any of the parties. If you are mentioned in this article and believe you may need legal help, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Oregon law firms specializing in personal injury, including us, will provide free and confidential consultations, so do not hesitate to call and ask questions.
