EspañolSettlement After a Falling Park Tree Killed a Wife and Mother
Carrillo Law Firm obtained a $5.75 million settlement in litigation arising from the death of Maria de la Luz Cruz after a large oak tree fell onto her family’s parked vehicle at Pearson Park in Anaheim. On February 19, 2023, Mr. Cruz and his ten-year-old son were playing tennis nearby while Maria de la Luz remained in the car. The tree collapsed, crushing the vehicle and killing her.
The family’s case focused on warning signs that the tree posed a danger to park visitors. The plaintiffs alleged that the City of Anaheim and its tree-maintenance contractor failed to adequately assess and address the oak’s condition despite a previously removed dead branch, a significant lean toward the street, and conditions affecting its roots. A post-incident inspection by the plaintiffs’ arborists identified extensive root rot that compromised the tree’s stability.
The loss left Mr. Cruz raising his son without the woman who had helped care for him, supported his education, and shared the family’s daily life. The settlement resolved claims arising from the fatal tree collapse and its devastating impact on the Cruz family
