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Lodi man sues himself for vehicle damage
Contra Costa Times ^ | Mar. 15, 2006 | AP

Posted on 03/15/2006 12:40:26 PM PST by calcowgirl

LODI, Calif. - When a dump truck backed into Curtis Gokey's car, he decided to sue the city for damages.

Only thing is, he was the one driving the dump truck.

But that minor detail didn't stop Gokey, a Lodi city employee, from filing a $3,600 claim for the December accident, even after admitting the crash was his fault.

After the city denied that claim because Gokey was, in essence, suing himself, he and his wife, Rhonda, decided to file a new claim under her name.

City Attorney Steve Schwabauer said this one also lacks merit because Rhonda Gokey can't sue her own husband.

"You can sue your spouse for divorce, but you can't sue your spouse for negligence," Schwabauer said. "They're a married couple under California law. They're one entity. It's damage to community property."

But Rhonda Gokey insisted she has "the right to sue the city because a city's vehicle damaged my private vehicle."

In fact, her claim, currently pending at Lodi City Hall, is for an even larger amount - $4,800.

"I'm not as nice as my husband is," she said.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: lodi
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1 posted on 03/15/2006 12:40:29 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl
This guy is still employed by Lodi?
2 posted on 03/15/2006 12:43:29 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: calcowgirl

He should have taken a clue from Steve Bosell and sued for 1)emotional sodomy, 2)vehicular rape, and 3)improper backing that led to severe emotional distress.


3 posted on 03/15/2006 12:44:11 PM PST by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: ncountylee
This guy is still employed by Lodi?

He's a government employee. It'll take a lot more than this to get rid of him. I wonder if he's also a union member.

4 posted on 03/15/2006 12:45:44 PM PST by American Quilter
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To: ncountylee
This guy is still employed by Lodi?

Union.

5 posted on 03/15/2006 12:45:54 PM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ncountylee

""I'm not as nice as my husband is," she said."

How about the city stop being nice and sue them for a frivolous law suit, and wasting taxpayer money.


6 posted on 03/15/2006 12:46:23 PM PST by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us.")
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To: ncountylee

Had he run into another employee's vehicle, or had another employee run into his vehicle, no one would question it. Unless he did it on purpose, and that doesn't seem to be the case, the City ought to pay the claim. The City has already spent more money denying the claim than if they had just paid it from the beginning. And spouses can sue one another in California for negligence.


7 posted on 03/15/2006 12:49:07 PM PST by DryFly
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To: calcowgirl

I hope these two pinheads didn't have kids. Sounds like Mom and Dad have the IQs of a toaster oven.


8 posted on 03/15/2006 12:51:30 PM PST by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
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To: DryFly
The City has already spent more money denying the claim than if they had just paid it from the beginning.


And if they pay this one...they can expect to pay many more.
9 posted on 03/15/2006 12:52:39 PM PST by P-40 (http://www.590klbj.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=1854)
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To: calcowgirl

Is the same lawyer representing both parties in this case?


10 posted on 03/15/2006 12:52:56 PM PST by uncitizen
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To: calcowgirl
"I'm not as nice as my husband is," she said.

But she's obviously as stupid.

11 posted on 03/15/2006 12:54:24 PM PST by Hildy
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To: RexBeach
I hope these two pinheads didn't have kids. Sounds like Mom and Dad have the IQs of a toaster oven.

Well I can kiss another keyboard goodbye, LOL!

12 posted on 03/15/2006 12:58:31 PM PST by CAP811 (One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place)
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To: P-40

Sure, every City employee is going to be backing dump trucks into their personal vehicles. Come on. There is no indication that is what happened here. You can be damned sure that if he backed into a council member's car the City would be paying it.


13 posted on 03/15/2006 1:00:53 PM PST by DryFly
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To: calcowgirl

Can I sue myself for slander in CA? I make myself look like a fool sometimes!


14 posted on 03/15/2006 1:01:13 PM PST by loreldan (Lincoln, Reagan, & G. W. Bush - the cure for Democrat lunacy.)
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To: MPJackal

A city vehicle driven by a city employee did have an accident with a private vehicle. If it was you, you would expect to be compensated.

The issue is he backed into his own vehicle which really does not matter since it was a city vehicle.

If it was an accident, that is why everyone has insurance and it needs to be paid.

The only way I woul dnot is if the city can show he hit his own car on purpose - late on payments, its old and wanted to replace it - some sort of fraud the city is still liable.

Since cities now own trees along streets, I was at city hall when a guy came in and got a whole new paint job for his car because a branch fell on it.


15 posted on 03/15/2006 1:03:07 PM PST by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: DryFly
You can be damned sure that if he backed into a council member's car the City would be paying it.


But he backed into his own vehicle and admitted fault. At some point you have to draw the line...and if the city is weak on defending itself it can expect more lawsuits.
16 posted on 03/15/2006 1:04:21 PM PST by P-40 (http://www.590klbj.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=1854)
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To: calcowgirl

I believe that some states do permit lawsuits between spouses alleging negligence. I vaguely remember a case in Connecticut some years back where the wife was a passenger in a car driven by the husband, and sued him for injuries resulting from him driving off the road. I think the idea was that the husband paid for insurance to compensate victims of his negligence and that it shouldn't matter whether the victim was a spouse.


17 posted on 03/15/2006 1:05:42 PM PST by Stingray51
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To: ncountylee
[This guy is still employed by Lodi?]



Are you kidding? If they fire him it will take about 8 seconds for him to file a lawsuit alleging wrongful dismissal.
18 posted on 03/15/2006 1:13:02 PM PST by spinestein (The network news is to journalism what McDonald's is to food.)
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To: domenad; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; SandyInSeattle; Darksheare; tiamat; ...
He should have taken a clue from Steve Bosell and sued for 1)emotional sodomy, 2)vehicular rape, and 3)improper backing that led to severe emotional distress.

In his case, I'd say it's auto-eroticism.


19 posted on 03/15/2006 1:17:26 PM PST by Slings and Arrows ("Facts are a Zionist plot!" --MarkL)
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To: calcowgirl

What, he doesn't have insurance?


20 posted on 03/15/2006 1:33:23 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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