For nearly three years, Rosendo Ochoa Sr. waited to have his day in court. On Monday, March 15, his case settled minutes before jurors were slated to be sworn in.
In May 2007, Ochoa filed suit against Richard Allen Boyd, alleging Boyd negligently sped through a Port Arthur red light and struck his vehicle.
The case was placed on the March docket and attorneys for both parties spent most of Monday morning screening potential jurors.
However, one of the trial lawyers blinked and the case settled minutes before the jury could be sworn in.
In his suit, Ochoa says on Feb. 26, 2007, he was traveling through the intersection of 9th Avenue and Proctor Street with a green light when Boyd ran a red light and collided with him.
"...Boyd failed to keep a proper lookout for plaintiff's safety," the suit states. "Plaintiff's injuries were proximately caused by Boyd's negligent, careless and reckless disregard of said duty."
Ochoa was suing for past and future medical expenses, pain and mental anguish.
He was represented in part by attorney Barrett Lindsay.
Boyd was represented in part by attorney Kimberly Spurlock.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, presided over the case.
Case No. E179-395