At first, the undercover sheriff denied running the light while driving an unmarked Ford Explorer. On September 30, 2020, at the signalized T-intersection of Third Street and Lena Road in San Bernardino, the violent collision took place.

The sheriff entered the intersection on a red light. He claimed to have had a green light. The jury found the sheriff 100% liable. Then the sheriff blamed the victim, Emanuel. The sheriff claimed Emanuel was speeding because of the severity of the collision.

Emanuel Butler sustained serious back and neck injuries. He underwent surgery, received multiple epidural injections, and faces additional surgeries (including a possible spinal fusion). At the time of trial, he was about 60 years old and served as the primary caregiver for his father, a Navy veteran. The county conducted approximately 40 hours of surveillance on him. The plaintiff introduced the footage to show his ongoing limitations.

In 2022, Emanuel offered to settle for $500,000 to pay his medical bills. The sheriff offered $140,000.

Verdict (March 23, 2026)

The jury found Lozano negligent and that his negligence was a substantial factor in causing Butler's harm. It found Butler not negligent (no comparative fault). The total award was $6,002,314, broken down as follows:

• Past medical expenses: $237,314
• Future medical expenses: $765,000
• Past noneconomic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.): $2,000,000
• Future noneconomic damages: $3,000,000

The County of San Bernardino was held fully liable (vicarious liability under Government Code §§ 815.2 and 820). County officials indicated they were considering an appeal. Insurance coverage details were not immediately clear.

Plaintiff's counsel publicly criticized the county for rejecting a reasonable early settlement and noted a similar pattern in another case (Florencio Munguia v. County of San Bernardino), which also produced a multimillion-dollar verdict after a low settlement offer.

Emanuel Butler v. County of San Bernardino, Sheriff's Department



Hon. Judge Michael Dauber, CIVSB 2117028

• Cases against the government are tough. They have unlimited taxpayer-funded lawyers.
• Suing law enforcement is a major challenge.
• This case took SIX YEARS. The county used its deep pockets to wear down the plaintiff.
• Most lawyers won't take this fight.
• Stay close to the plaintiff's attorney. Make sure they go the distance—not settle cheap. A low settlement gives them an excuse to CUT YOUR FEE.

No, only rideshare cases, Uber and Lyft, starting Jan. 1, 2027.

SB 623 (Fair Medical Billing & Rideshare Safety Act) – Specific Effects on Chiropractic Bills

Applies only to lien-based chiropractic treatment in civil claims/arbitrations arising from automobile accidents involving Uber, Lyft, or other transportation network companies (or their app-based drivers).

Caps the maximum recoverable amount for any lien-based chiropractic service at the 70th percentile of FAIR Health (or comparable commercial) billed-charges data for the same/similar service in the same geographic area at the time of treatment.

• Bars introduction of evidence of chiropractic charges that exceed that 70th-percentile benchmark.
• If the chiropractic lien (or right to payment) has been sold or transferred to a third party, further caps recovery at the actual consideration paid to acquire the lien (not the original billed amount).
• Makes all lien sales/transfers, prices paid, financing, factoring, ownership, investment, lending, and related compensation arrangements involving the chiropractic treatment fully discoverable.
• Bars enforcement of any undisclosed lien sale or transfer against the defendant, insurer, settlement, or judgment proceeds.
• Prohibits contingency-fee attorneys from referring clients to a chiropractic provider they (or an immediate family member) own.
• Prohibits attorneys from fee-splitting or receiving specified compensation tied to referring clients for, or furnishing, lien-based chiropractic treatment.

But the new law DOES NOT:

• Does not prohibit chiropractors from treating on a lien or billing their usual rates.
• Does not force chiropractors to accept the capped amount as full payment in every situation (the cap limits what the plaintiff can recover from the rideshare defendant/insurer).
• Does not apply to non-rideshare (ordinary) car-accident cases.
• Does not change Medicare, Medi-Cal, workers' compensation, or private health insurance reimbursement rules.
• Does not cap attorney contingency fees.

Bottom line for chiropractic bills in covered Uber/Lyft cases: Lien-based charges will be measured against the 70th-percentile FAIR Health benchmark (and any sale price if transferred), reducing the recoverable value of higher-than-benchmark bills and increasing scrutiny/negotiation around those amounts.

Professor

Life Chiropractic College West · Full-time Hayward, California

President

Gonstead Clinical Studies Society

April 2019 – Present · 7 years, 4 months

United States

GCSS is an international organization of Doctors of Chiropractic that provides education, training, and research in the Gonstead method of chiropractic.

Doctor of Chiropractic

Currie Chiropractic: Anti-Aging, Weight Loss & Wellness

Currie Chiropractic & Anti-Aging Solutions

November 1982 – Present · 43 years, 9 months

Fremont, California