Ernesto Raymundo-Lazaro v. Autozone

Summary

A Nevada state court jury returned a defense verdict August 25th in a lawsuit filed by a man alleging he suffered serious injuries after an AutoZone employee attacked him.

The Clark County jury delivered their verdict after hearing closing arguments Friday in a trial that began on August 7. Plaintiff Ernesto Raymundo-Lazaro and his wife, Guadalupe Ventura Gomez sought roughly $10 million in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages after AutoZone employee Jose Guerra assaulted him in 2022 after Raymundo-Lazaro attempted to purchase a diesel filter for his car.

Although Guerra was later convicted on criminal battery charges, AutoZone successfully argued the company was not liable for the incident, maintaining the assault occurred outside the scope of Guerra’s official employment duties, and that a manager present in the store was not negligent by failing to immediately intervene.

Outcome

Defense Verdict