OW South P.U.P. Area Representative Faces Lawsuit from Arana Family
Jose Abelardo Mai
Orange Walk South P.U.P. Area Representative, Jose Abelardo Mai, is before Supreme Court Justice Courtenay Abel. The lawsuit against Mai stems from a traffic accident which occurred on the Phillip Goldson Highway on April first, 2016. Mai knocked down fifty-nine-year-old Julia Arana while driving through Trial Farm Village in the Orange Walk District. Arana was left in a comatose condition, but later showed signs of improvement. She was released from the K.H.M.H., but died two months after. A post-mortem examination determined that the cause of Arana’s death was ‘acute cardio respiratory failure and severe bilateral broncho pneumonia.’ Mai was not criminally charged, but Arana’s family believes that her death is directly linked to the accident. Her son, popular cyclist Nissan Arana filed a civil claim against Mai asking the court to award his family damages. Arana’s attorney is Sheena Pitts.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Attorney for Nissan Arana
“In 2016, it was April first when there was a road traffic accident on the highway in Trial Farm Village. That road traffic accident, Abelardo Jose Mai, collided, knocked down Julia Arana who is my client’s mother. So my client is bringing this civil claim against Abelardo Jose Mai for knocking down his mother, the injuries sustain and the damages as a result of those injuries.”
Hipolito Novelo
“The claim is seeking damages?”
Sheena Pitts
“Right, it is a claim for damages.”
Reporter
“Are you able to say what it is the quantum?”
Julia Arana
Sheena Pitts
“Well the thing is because it is personal injuries, damages are at large and they need to be assessed by the court. What we do is assist the court in coming up with that figure. The figure depends on the kind of injuries and then we have guidelines and other cases where similar injuries were sustained and what was awarded. In this case, Ms Arana suffered severe head injuries, brain damage. She had a broken hip. She had several scars, cuts and abrasions. She had a ruptured liver. They had to do an exploratory laparotomy. So the quantum will be based on all those injuries combined, based on the period of pain and suffering that she endured prior to her death. In addition to all those expenses the family incurred as a result of her being knocked down, going to the hospital, funeral and that sort of thing.”
Reporter
“Explain to us, briefly, what was being established in court today in term of the expert witnesses.”
Sheena Pitts
“Today we had three experts. They were joint experts. They are experts of the court. What we were doing today was having the experts explain to us the classification of the injuries and what medical terms meant. And whether or not those injuries had anything to do with the lady’s eventual death because it is out case that in addition to suffering those extensive head and body injuries, those injuries were directly related to her eventual death. So what the expert did is tell us the nature and classification of the injuries, the severity, her condition right up until the time and that those injuries were directly related to what caused her to die.”
Mai is being represented by Attorney Julie-Anne Ellis Bradley. The trial continues on Thursday with the cross-examination of pathologist, Doctor Hugh Sanchez.
