A tragic incident in Pasadena has led to a significant legal battle involving the City of Pasadena and an individual driver. On July 22, 2024, Joseph Wirija filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County against the City of Pasadena and Austin Nok Lum Wong, following the death of his wife, Yangyang Liu.
The lawsuit stems from a November 2021 accident where Liu was struck and killed by a car driven by Wong while she was crossing South Allen Avenue in Pasadena. In August 2022, Liu’s husband, Joseph Wirija, along with her parents Ansheng Liu and Lele Chen (collectively referred to as Petitioners), initiated a wrongful death and survival action against Wong and the City of Pasadena. The plaintiffs alleged that Wong's excessive speeding and extreme recklessness caused Liu's death. Additionally, they accused the City of Pasadena of creating a dangerous condition on public property due to faulty design and maintenance at the intersection where the accident occurred.
Wong faced criminal charges for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in January 2023 and pleaded no contest in June 2023. Following his plea, Petitioners sought to depose Wong in their civil case but encountered resistance as Wong invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination until his sentencing. Consequently, the Superior Court stayed all proceedings against both Wong and the City until October 8, 2024.
Petitioners then filed a petition for writ of mandate seeking to lift this stay. They argued that since Wong had already been sentenced on July 12, 2024, there was no longer any justification for halting discovery or other proceedings. The court ultimately agreed with Petitioners' argument that once sentencing had occurred, Wong's Fifth Amendment rights were no longer at risk.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief including damages for wrongful death and injuries suffered by Liu prior to her death. They aim to hold both Wong accountable for his reckless driving and the City responsible for maintaining unsafe public property conditions.
Representing the Petitioners are attorneys Jody Steinberg, Nicholas S. Walls, and Roxanne F. Swedelson from Hanger, Steinberg, Shapiro & Ash. The real party in interest—the City of Pasadena—is represented by Michele Beal Bagneris along with Deputy City Attorneys Danielle St. Claire and Sophia M. Retchless. Additionally, Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar’s William O. Woodland and Mark P. LaScola represent Austin Nok Lum Wong.
The case is being overseen by Judge Lynne M. Hobbs under Case ID B332647.