On August 11, a San Mateo County jury awarded $33 million to two 11-year-old girls whose parents, Greg Ammen and Grace Spiridon, were killed while their vehicle was turning left on El Camino Real in Redwood City on November 4, 2022. Defendant Cesar Morales, then 17 years old, was engaged in a street race that night, and struck the Ammen vehicle. The parents of Cesar Morales, Arnold Morales and Susana Salto Alvarez, were also found liable for ignoring warnings about their son’s driving history. The case has gained widespread attention, and focused on how much responsibility parents have for their teenage children.
The verdict follows a three-week jury trial in which the jury heard evidence that Cesar Morales was driving 105-110mph on the night of the deaths. Cesar Morales also had a previous citation for driving over 100mph which the parents testified they knew nothing about. The car involved in the crash was registered to Cesar Morales.
Niall McCarthy, lead trial attorney on the case said, “We are hopeful today’s verdict serves as a wakeup call to Bay Area parents. You cannot ignore warning signs with your teenage children. Parents need to do more than simply provide a car and hope for the best. They need to act when it is apparent their child needs a course correction.” He added, “Here, tragically, two young girls no longer have parents because of the Morales Family’s decisions.”
