Z107.7 News has learned that the County Board of Supervisors approved a $3.75 million settlement with the widow and children of a Twentynine Palms man who was killed in a traffic collision with a Sheriff’s deputy 2 ½ years ago, but due to squabbling among the family, the settlement hasn’t been paid yet. Luc Van Bui, 64, was killed April 30, 2013, when his Toyota Camry was hit broadside at Encelia Avenue by a Sheriff’s patrol car driven by Deputy Erdom Gorgulu, who was driving eastbound on the highway. Bui’s family filed a lawsuit in February 2014 against the county, the Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Gorgulu, and the City of Twentynine Palms. The case went to mediation in December 2014; the defendants agreed to the following settlement terms: a payment of 3 million, 750 thousand dollars; a dismissal of the case with prejudice (meaning that the family could not file another lawsuit); no admission of fault; and each side was to pay their own legal fees. However, the payment has not been made yet, as the widow and children can’t decide how the settlement should be divided. In the meantime, the defendants—the county, Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Gorgulu, and the City of Twentynine Palms—filed a lawsuit against the family, asking the court to force the family to decide how to allocate the settlement. And on Wednesday, the family’s lawyers filed a lien against the settlement as they still haven’t been paid the $900,506 they say they are owed for attorneys’ fees and costs. City Manager Frank Luckino said the City of Twentynine Palms does not have any liability in the settlement as the Sheriff’s contract with the city indemnifies it against lawsuits.
COUNTY PAYS $3.75 MILLION IN FATAL CAR CRASH INVOLVING MORONGO BASIN SHERIFF’S DEPUTY
