Case Results

Largest Compensatory Damages Verdict Against the District of Columbia Government After Man Is Killed by DC Fire Truck

A Washington, DC, jury awarded more than $13.57 million in a wrongful death compensatory damages verdict against the District of Columbia government. This is the largest compensatory damages verdict in a wrongful death case against the DC government.

The case arose from the tragic death of DeAngelo Green, a devoted father of six and lifelong DC resident. Mr. Green was returning to work from a lunch break when he entered the intersection of 12th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NE, in Brookland with the green light.

At the same time, a District of Columbia government fire truck sped downhill toward a red light at 24 miles per hour over the speed limit. Despite braking, the fire truck crashed into Mr. Green’s Honda, forcing it into a retaining wall before landing on top of the vehicle. Mr. Green died instantly.

The Loss to Mr. Green’s Family

Mr. Green had recently begun working at So Others Might Eat in Washington, DC. He left behind a wife and six children, ranging in age from two to fifteen. His death created both profound emotional loss and severe financial hardship for the family. At Kitchel Injury Law, we understand what our clients are going through after losing a loved one, and we can advise on how to lighten your parenting load during this difficult time.

Beyond income, Mr. Green was the family’s primary caregiver and daily source of structure, support, and encouragement. He cooked meals, helped with homework, cared for the children, and guided them through everyday life. His absence fundamentally changed the lives of his wife and children.

Building a Wrongful Death Case Against the District of Columbia Government

Mr. Green’s death occurred in 2018, beginning a six-year legal battle against the District of Columbia government. Establishing liability required extensive investigation and expert analysis. As an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Washington, DC, attorney Allyson Kitchel knows how to build a winning case.

Although evidence showed the fire truck was traveling far above the speed limit and ran a red light, the District initially refused to accept responsibility. The fire truck’s dash camera was not operating that day, requiring attorneys to rely heavily on accident reconstruction experts and technical evidence. Trial evidence ultimately demonstrated that the crash would not have occurred if the fire truck had been traveling only 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, consistent with department policy.

The legal team also worked to quantify the family’s losses. An economist calculated:

• Mr. Green’s lost future income
• The value of the household services he provided
• The loss of parental care, education, and guidance to his children

Under Washington, DC, wrongful death laws, grief testimony is not admissible. Instead, the case focused on concrete evidence of Mr. Green’s role as a father, provider, and mentor.

Washington DC wrongful death attorney Allyson Kitchel and the team at Kitchel Injury Law built the case by:

• Working with accident reconstruction and fire apparatus experts
• Investigating missing or unpreserved evidence
• Documenting Mr. Green’s life, parenting, and contributions to his family

Jury Finds the District of Columbia Government Responsible

After the District of Columbia refused to offer compensation, the case proceeded to trial twice.

In June 2023, a DC jury found the District of Columbia government grossly negligent and responsible for Mr. Green’s wrongful death. When compensation still was not provided, the case returned to trial in February 2024.

On February 22, 2024, the jury returned a verdict of more than $13.57 million in compensatory damages, awarding financial support to Mr. Green’s widow and children. The verdict represents the largest compensatory damages wrongful death verdict against the District of Columbia government and will provide long-term financial stability for the family. The DC Government has refused to pay the verdict, and the matter was heard by the DC Court of Appeals in December, 2025.

Compassionate Legal Representation After a Fatal Accident

Kitchel Injury Law provides compassionate legal representation to families who have lost their loved ones as a result of negligent or reckless actions in the DC area. If someone you love was killed in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, or the surrounding areas, contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Our client was rear-ended by a man on a Zoom call. 

Yes, a Zoom call.

Both cars pulled over.

When our client got out of the car to check on the driver who hit her, he told her to wait while he finished his call!

Our “friends” at State Farm were unwilling to make our client a fair offer for her whiplash and concussion.  We took the case to trial and recovered more than $23,000 for our client.

Even “small” cases matter here at Kitchel Law. This case wasn’t small to our client, and it wasn’t small to us. We are never afraid to take a case to trial. 

This isn’t our biggest verdict. But we’re proud of what it shows – we will go to trial and play hardball when insurance companies won’t make a fair offer.

How We Helped

When our client first called, she reported she had hired a lawyer already, that they had reviewed her medical records, and that they said she didn’t have a case. They told her she’d have to find a new lawyer. This admittedly happens from time to time, but this lawyer had sat her her file for years and the office dropped this bomb on our client’s lap just weeks before her statute of limitations ran. (Moral of the story – always hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney!) We jumped into gear, gathering her records and engaging an obstetrician to review the case. His opinion was that this was a clear case of medical negligence. The primary care doctor should have either referred the patient to someone who knew what they were doing, or they should have recognized our client was having an obstetric emergency and rushed her to get an ultrasound. Our client’s tragedy was entirely preventable. The doctor was employed by the United States, so we immediately initiated proceedings under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Justice At Last

When this dispute was filed in Federal Court, the United States put up a fight. The lawyers issued subpoenas to every doctor our client had ever seen. Finally, it came time for what we call Expert Disclosures. We disclosed to the United States a report prepared by our obstetrician that detailed all the ways our client had been failed. The US had 30 days to respond with their own expert’s report. We expected that they would find someone who was willing to twist the facts in some sort of way to blame our client. Shockingly, the US couldn’t find ANY doctor to defend what the doctor had done to our client. The US quickly agreed to mediate the case and offered a seven figure settlement. This is life-changing money for my client. She can now afford to pay for a surrogate or to pursue adoption. More importantly to our client, the doctor very graciously admitted the mistakes and provided my client with evidence that will make sure this mistake is never repeated in the facility where my client was treated.

Our Client Learns the Severity of His Injuries

Our client was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. He suffered multiple injuries, including an AirPod impaled in his ear, a partially severed ear, broken bones in his arm and leg, and numerous abrasions. However, the doctors found no evidence of a brain bleed.

Initially, our client believed he was recovering as expected. His ear was stitched back on, his broken bones healed, and he was able to complete most of his daily activities. The only sign of the trouble to come was that he continued to struggle with severe headaches.

Our client brushed off the daily headaches as an annoyance until he needed to take an employment physical to prepare for an upcoming transfer abroad. He failed the physical because there was no way to determine exactly how long he had been unconscious and the evidence suggested he had suffered a moderate to severe brain injury. Failing the physical meant he’d no longer be able to fly due to safety concerns—meaning that his career as a pilot would come to an end.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Allyson Kitchel Builds a Case for Compensation

Initially, our client was concerned about paying his medical bills and ensuring he’d be treated fairly as an injured pedestrian. Once he lost the credentials necessary to continue his military career, his case became more complex.

We needed to underscore the devastating loss our client suffered by no longer being able to work in the profession that was his childhood dream. He’d loved his job for over 20 years and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. You can’t truly put a price tag on a personal passion and the joy that comes with serving your country, but our vocational experts assessed his career trajectory and estimated a staggering loss of nearly $5,000,000 in future earnings.

Establishing the loss our client had suffered was only part of the battle, however. Here’s how Washington DC pedestrian accident lawyer Allyson Kitchel and the team at Kitchel Law, PLLC, built a winning case:

• We consulted a brain injury specialist who used advanced neuroimaging to provide objective proof of a progressing brain injury—contradicting the initial hospital reports.
• The initial police report inaccurately blamed our client for crossing against the light. His wife contested this, asserting there was no light at the intersection where the accident occurred. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the 911 audio and diligent social media investigation supported her claim and connected us with the helpful bystander. This helped to clearly establish fault for the accident.
• The driver had $500,000 in insurance coverage. Even though this was significantly above average, we knew it wouldn’t be enough to fully cover our client’s losses. Additional research revealed that the owner of the car, who was the parent of the driver, had a $1,000,000 umbrella policy.

Our Client Gets the Compensation He Needs to Move Forward

Ultimately, our client opted to avoid the personal inconvenience and risk of a trial by accepting a $1,500,000 settlement offer—a sum that would cover his medical expenses and help support his family as he transitioned to a new phase of life. Despite being forced to leave his career as a pilot due to the severity of his injuries, he remains hopeful that he will be able to utilize his skills and explore new opportunities in the private sector.

Have You Recently Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

Kitchel Law, PLLC provides compassionate legal representation to injured pedestrians and their families throughout the Metro DC area. If you or someone you love was struck by a car while walking in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, or the surrounding areas, contact us today to schedule a consultation.

How We Uncovered the Truth

Representing this person and holding these wrongdoers accountable has been a great privilege. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Tens of thousands of documents were discovered that showed the landlord KNEW about the safety hazards and was looking for a cheaper way to fix them. Subpoeanas were issued to government agencies who had supposedly investigated but did nothing. Experts evaluated this client and created a plan for restoring this person’s health and assuring their welfare.  Countless doctors  were identified as witnesses.  I spent at least 1,000 hours in the last two years working for this person.  (And the truth is, the work continues because the person’s health insurance company wants to be paid back for medical treatment. Even though we reached a settlement, the battle continues so this person can keep their money.)

When all of the evidence was disclosed, the insurance companies didn’t pay up. Instead, they filed law suits against each other to fight about who had to pay first.

Dignity Restored

This tragedy could have been prevented with $500 worth of safety repairs, and we were confident no Washington, DC jury would stand for how this person’s rights had been neglected. We hired a retired judge  to mediate a settlement and convince the insurance companies to fully compensate this person.  At the end of the day, we achieved justice for this very deserving person, who received full compensation for everything that happened. For their own protection, the financial compensation is highly confidential. But dignity has now been restored. My client now has all of the resources necessary to get heath care. Fresh food. Privacy. To live in a clean, dignified, comfortable home. And to have the resources to live a life they deserve.