Court Tosses Jury Verdict for Injured Worker Due to Instructional Errors

A California appellate court overturned a verdict against an orchard owner for injuries suffered by a contractor’s employee due to prejudicial errors in the jury instructions. Case: Alaniz v. Sun Pacific Shippers L.P., No. B290013, 02/05/2020, published. Facts: Sun Pacific Shippers L.P. grows mandarins at an orchard outside Fillmore. It hires independent contractors to deliver empty bins to the orchard, pick the fruit and deliver full bins to the packing house. Each contractor provides its own pickers, drivers and forklift operators. Jesus Alaniz worked for Navarro Trucking,...