By Shane Harris, Director of Communications
In a landmark decision for public-transit safety and accountability, a San Diego jury awarded 8.5 million dollars to the family of 28-year-old Anthony McGaff, who died after being placed in a prolonged chokehold aboard a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus in April 2022. The verdict represents a major victory for the McGaff family and a powerful affirmation of Gomez Trial Attorneys’ commitment to justice.
On April 30, 2022, McGaff boarded an MTS bus in downtown San Diego where an altercation later unfolded. Testimony and surveillance footage presented at trial showed that after a passenger began recording him, a confrontation escalated, and another passenger placed McGaff in a chokehold for more than eight minutes. Throughout the struggle, the bus continued moving and the driver did not stop or intervene. McGaff lost consciousness and later died at a hospital.
Representing the McGaff family, Gomez Trial Attorneys built a case that highlighted MTS’s responsibility to protect its passengers and respond appropriately in emergencies. The family’s legal team established that the bus operator failed to take timely action despite clear signs that McGaff was in danger. After hearing the evidence, the jury determined that MTS was 40 percent liable for McGaff’s death, with the remaining liability assigned to three passengers involved in the restraint.
Following the verdict, Attorney John Gomez shared the weight of the moment, stating:
“This verdict represents accountability. Anthony’s life mattered, and today a jury acknowledged that his death should never have happened. We are grateful to the McGaff family for trusting us, and we hope this outcome helps prevent tragedies like this in the future.”
Attorney Brian Mason, who helped lead the trial team, added:
“Anthony was a son, a brother, and a human being deserving of dignity and safety. Our job was to make sure the truth was heard and that the system that failed him was held responsible. This verdict delivers justice, and it sends a strong message about the duty of care owed to every passenger who steps onto a public bus.”
The case underscores the importance of safety standards, emergency response training, and accountability within public transportation systems. Legal observers note that the verdict will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of transit-operator protocols and may encourage reforms aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
For the McGaff family, the verdict provides a measure of closure after years of pain and uncertainty. For Gomez Trial Attorneys, it reaffirms the firm’s unwavering dedication to standing with families who seek truth, accountability, and justice, even when facing powerful institutions.
The 8.5 million dollar verdict is more than a legal milestone; it is a testament to perseverance, the value of human life, and the essential role of courtroom advocacy in creating safer communities for everyone.