This article, a Miami Herald report from December 2013, highlights a substantial victory for a family represented by Edward Blumberg of Deutsch Blumberg & Caballero, P.A. A Miami-Dade civil jury awarded over $15 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a horrific drunk-driving wreck on Interstate 95. The tragedy, which occurred in March 2011, saw Carlos Lacayo plow his vehicle into a crowd of motorists on the shoulder, killing five people, including 23-year-old University of Miami graduate Emerson Kastenholz. Despite Lacayo remaining a fugitive from criminal charges for DUI manslaughter, Attorney Blumberg emphasized that “He couldn’t run away from the civil justice system.”
The civil jury deliberated for approximately three hours before delivering their decision. Evidence presented in court indicated that Lacayo’s blood alcohol content was significantly above the legal limit hours after the crash, and he had admitted to drinking. The victims had gathered on the highway shoulder following a series of minor accidents when Lacayo’s car veered from the express lane directly into the crowd. The jury’s award included $9 million to Kastenholz’s mother, $6 million to his father, and an additional $350,000 in punitive damages. This significant verdict underscores Deutsch Blumberg & Caballero’s commitment to holding negligent parties accountable and securing vital compensation for families devastated by tragic and preventable loss.
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