The family of Jose Ortiz, who was crushed to death between a tractor trailer and a loading dock at a Goleta dairy company last month, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, as well as the transportation company and the truck’s driver. The suit alleges that Alta Dena Certified Dairy and DeFrancesco’s Dairy Transport, Inc. (based in Rancho Cucamonga) allowed driver Cory Lopez to operate the truck knowing his reported history of drug and alcohol abuse and impaired driving. Ortiz’s wife, son, and mother are suing for financial and punitive damages. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the accident is being investigated by Cal/OSHA.
