ORIGINAL
CITY CLERK'S DATE STAMP
CITY OF RIALTO
LIABILITY CITY OF RIALTO
CLAIM FOR DAMAGES 2026 AUG 20 PM 2: 10
TO PERSON OR PROPERTY
RECEIVED
-CITY CLERK
1. Claims for death, injury to person, or to personal property must be filed not later than six (6) manths after the occurrence (Goy. Code 59112).
2. Claims for damages to real property must be filed not later than one (1) year after the occurrence (Gov. Code §911.2). RETURN TO:
3.READ ENTIRE CLAIM FOR BEFORE FILING Rialto City Clerk's Office
4. ATTACH SEPARATE SHEETS, IF NECESSARY, TO GIVE FULL DETAILS Mail: 150S. Palm Ave., Rialto, CA 92376 Address: 290 W. Rialto Ave., Rialto, CA 92376
CLAIMANT INFORMATION:
Jessica Loring
DATE OF BIRTH
FULL NAME
HOME ADDRESS INCLUDING CITY, STATE & ZIP HOME TELEPHONE NO. c/o TorkLaw, APC, 18650 MacArthur Blvd, Ste 300, Irvine, CA 92612 ( 310)935-1111 BUSINESS ADDRESS INCLUDING CITY, STATE & ZIP BUSINESS TELEPHONE NO.
ADDRESS AT WHICH CLAIMANT DESIRES TO RECEIVE Laura Morris, Esq., TorkLaw, APC
NOTICES OR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THIS CLAIM
(if different from home address provided above): 18650 MacArthur Bivd, Ste 300, Irvine, CA 92612
1. WHEN DID DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCUR? DATE: February 24, 2026 TIME: 2:22 •AM XI PM
2. PLACE OF ACCIDENT (OCCURRENCE) BE SPECIFIC - Describe fully and (if applicable) locate on diagram on reverse side of this sheet.
Where appropriate, give street names and addresses, measurements and landmarks.
Intersection of East Highland Avenue and North Pepper Avenue, Rialto, California 92376. See Attachment for additional details:
3. HOW DID DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCUR?
See Attachment
4. WERE POLICE AT THE SCENE? X YES ONO WERE PARAMEDICS AT THE SCENE? *I YES • NO
5. WHAT PARTICULAR ACT OR OMISSION DO YOU CLAIM CAUSED THE INJURY OR DAMAGES? Give the name of the city/town employee causing the injury or damage, if known.
See Attachment
6. GIVE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CLAIM Include estimate of amount of any prospective injury or damage $ See Att.
HOW WAS THE ABOVE AMOUNT COMPUTED? Be specific, list doctor bills, repair estimates, etc. Please attach 2 estimates.
DAMAGES INCURRED TO DATE:
Item/Date: Funeral expenses (Preciado Funeral Home) 2/27/26 Amount: $8.012.19 Item/Date: See Attachment for full description of damages Amount: $ AXE
TOTAL AMOUNT CLAIMED AS OF PRESENTATION OF THIS CLAIM: $ See Att.
ESTIMATED PROSPECTIVE DAMAGES, AS FAR AS KNOWN:
Item/Date: Exceeds $10.000 per Gov. Code §910. See Attachment. Amount: $ Item/Date: Amount: $
TOTAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT PROSPECTIVE DAMAGES: $ See Att.
7. WITNESSES TO DAMAGE OR INJURY List all persons known to have information (attach additional pages, if necessary) NAME: Jessica Loring (sister - on phone at time NAME: Officer B. Valazquez-Lopez. Rialto PD ADDRESS:.. ADDRESS: 128 N. Willow Ave, Rialto, CA 92376.
TELEPHONE: TELEPHONE: L
8. IF INJURED, PROVIDE NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION AND DATE/TIME DOCTORS) OR HOSPITAL(S) VISITED:
NAME: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center NAME: SB County Sheriff - Coroner Division ADDRESS: 400 N. Pepper Ave, Colton, CA 92324 ADDRESS: 175 S. Lena Rd, San Bernardino, CA 92415
TELEPHONE: (909 580-1000 TELEPHONE: 909)387-2978
DATE: 02/24/2026 -. TIME: 9:2L • AM XI PM DATE: 02/25/2026 ~ TIME:
9. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:
For all vehicle accident claims, place on the following diagram, the names of streets, including NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND WEST directions. Indicate place of accident by "X" and by showing house numbers or distances to street corners.
If a city/town vehicle was involved, designate by letter "A" location of the City/Town vehicle when you first saw it, and by "B" location of yourself or your vehicle when you first saw City/Town vehicle: location of City/Town vehicle at time of accident by "A-1" and location of yourself or your vehicle at the time of the accident by "B-1" and the point of impact by "X".
→ NOTE: IF THE DIAGRAM BELOW DOES NOT FIT THE SITUATION, PLEASE ATTACH A PROPER DIAGRAM SIGNED BY THE CLAIMANT.
CURB
PARKWAY
7. SIDEWALK
HAVE READ THE FOREGOING CLAIM AND KNOW THE CONTENTS THEREOF; AND CERTIFY THAT THE SAME IS TRUE OF MY OWN KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT AS T THOSE MATTERS WHICH ARE HEREIN STATED UPON MY INFORMATION AND BELIEF; AND AS TO THOSE MATTERS I BELIEVE THEM TO BE TRUE I CERȚIFY (ØR DECLARE) UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FOREGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT.
SIGNATURE OF CLAIMANT OR AGENT
8/20/2024
Laura Morris, Esq.
TYPE OR PRINT NAME DATE
Atterney for Claimant.
RELATIONSHIP TO CLAIMANT
NOTE: PRESENTATION OF A FALSE CLAIM IS A FELONY (CA PENAL CODE 72) RETURN CLAIM TO: RIALTO CITY CLERK'S OFFICE - 150 S. PALM AVE., RIALTO, CA 92376 •
ATTACHMENT TO CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY OF RIALTO
Claimant: Jessica Loring (Sister of Decedent Marcus Benjamin Loring) I. CLAIMANT INFORMATION
Claimant: Jessica Loring
Relationship to Decedent: Sister
Address:
Date of Birth:
Decedent: Marcus Benjamin Loring
Date of Birth:
Date of Death: February 24, 2026
Age at Death: 39
Attorney for Claimant: Laura Morris, Esq.
Firm: TorkLaw, APC
Address: 18650 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612 Telephone: (888) 222-8286
Facsimile: (800) 979-0262
Email: [email protected]
All notices and communications regarding this claim should be directed to Claimant's attomey at the address listed above.
II. DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF OCCURRENCE
Date: February 24, 2026
Time: Approximately 9:22 p.m.
Location: Intersection of East Highland Avenue and North Pepper Avenue, Rialto, California 92376 III. CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING RISE TO THIS CLAIM
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at approximately 8:53 p.m., the Redlands Police Department was conducting a stolen vehicle investigation regarding a 2018 Dodge Journey that had been stolen from the Citrus Suites hotel at 1230 W. Colton Avenue in Redlands, California. The vehicle was being electronically tracked through a cellphone left inside the vehicle, and its location was known to law enforcement. Redlands Police Department officers communicated the tracked location of the stolen vehicle to the Rialto Police Department, advising that the vehicle was in the area of Riverside Avenue and Baseline Road in the City of Rialto.
Rialto Police Department officers responded to the area and located the stolen vehicle being driven by Emanuel Ayala, age 33, of Bloomington. Officers attempted a traffic stop; however, Ayala failed to stop and fled, resulting in a high-speed vehicle pursuit involving at least three Rialto Police Department officers. The pursuit proceeded north on Riverside Avenue, east on Easton Street, and onto Highland Avenue, reaching speeds of approximately 70 to 100 miles per hour on city surface streets.
At approximately 9:22 p.m., at the intersection of East Highland Avenue and North Pepper Avenue, Ayala ran a red traffic signal and collided with a vehicle driven by Marcus Benjamin Loring, age 39, who was traveling westbound on Highland Avenue and attempting to turn southbound onto Pepper Avenue.
The impact forced both vehicles onto the curb, and Mr. Loring's 2018 Honda Civic overturned several times. Mr. Loring was a restrained driver and was not at fault in any way.
Mr. Loring was transported by Rialto Fire Department paramedics to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California, in cardiac arrest. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders and hospital staff, Mr. Loring was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m. by Dr. Ruben Burbank. The cause of death was blunt head trauma. An autopsy was performed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff - Coroner Division on February 25, 2026 (Coroner's Case No. 702601431, Autopsy No. A-0403-26).
At the time of the collision, Mr. Loring was speaking on the telephone with his sister, Jessica Loring, who heard the collision occur in real time, heard her brother become unresponsive, and heard first responders at the scene attempt to revive him.
Ayala sustained only minor injuries and was taken into custody at the scene. Ayala had an extensive criminal history, including approximately 30 prior arrests, 13 of which were for grand theft auto, as well as prior convictions for felony evading and narcotics offenses.
IV. ACTS AND OMISSIONS GIVING RISE TO THIS CLAIM
This claim arises from the negligent, reckless, and wrongful acts and omissions of the City of Rialto and its employees, officers, and agents, including but not limited to the following:
(a) The decision to initiate and continue a high-speed vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle — a property crime — when the vehicle was being electronically tracked and its location was known to law enforcement, and when less dangerous alternatives to a high-speed pursuit were available, including but not limited to surveillance, perimeter containment, and tracked recovery; (b) The failure to call off, terminate, or discontinue the pursuit when the speeds reached by the suspect vehicle and the conditions of the pursuit created an unreasonable and foreseeable danger to innocent members of the public;
(c) The failure to adequately train, supervise, and discipline officers regarding vehicle pursuit procedures, including the proper assessment of whether a pursuit is justified in light of the underlying offense, available alternatives, and the risk to public safety;
(d) The failure to adopt, implement, and enforce adequate vehicle pursuit policies that restrict or prohibit high-speed pursuits for property crimes, particularly when electronic tracking of the suspect vehicle is available;
(e) The failure to properly communicate and coordinate with the Redlands Police Department regarding the availability of electronic tracking as an alternative to a high-speed pursuit; (f) The failure to have a supervisor monitor and evaluate the pursuit in real time and order its termination when conditions warranted;
(g) The negligent and reckless operation of police vehicles during the pursuit at speeds of approximately 70 to 100 miles per hour on city surface streets;
(h) The failure to provide accurate and timely notification to the decedent's family regarding his condition, status, and death, including but not limited to providing false information that the decedent was "in custody" when he was in fact deceased or dying;
(i) Any and all other acts, omissions, policies, customs, and practices that contributed to the death of Marcus Benjamin Loring, whether or not specifically identified herein, including those that may be revealed through ongoing investigation and discovery.
The City of Rialto had actual and constructive notice that its vehicle pursuit practices posed a foreseeable risk of death and serious injury to innocent members of the public. Prior pursuit-related incidents in the City of Rialto, including but not limited to the April 2022 double fatality at Cedar Avenue and Randall Avenue, the December 2024 fatal pursuit on Meridian Avenue, and the January 2024 high-speed stolen vehicle chase, demonstrate a pattern of dangerous pursuit outcomes that should have prompted the City to reform its pursuit policies and practices.
V. INJURIES. DAMAGES, AND LOSSES
This claim is brought by Jessica Loring, the sister of decedent Marcus Benjamin Loring, for negligent infliction of emotional distress (bystander claim) pursuant to the framework established in Thing v. La Chuca (1989) 48 Cal.3d 644.
At the time of the collision, Jessica Loring was on the telephone with her brother Marcus. During their conversation, Marcus was speaking to Jessica about a personal matter when, mid-sentence, he exclaime nd the phone call was interrupted by the sound of the collision. Jessica heard rumbling, impact sounds and then silence from her brother. For approximately five minutes, she called out Marcus's name repeatedly and received no response.
Jessica then heard a voice at the scene say words to the effect of "hey, are you okay?" followed by "he's not responding." Jessica continued calling out to her brother. Jessica's grandmother, who was present with Jessica at the time, also attempted to speak to Marcus through the phone, calling him by his family nickname. After approximately 15 to 20 minutes, Jessica heard someone at the scene ask "who am I speaking with," and she identified herself. A first responder then told her: "Your brother has been in a serious accident and we are taking him to Arrowhead."
Following the collision, the Loring family experienced further emotional distress due to the actions and omissions of the Rialto Police Department, including but not limited to: the hospital could not initially locate Marcus by name; San Bernardino Police Department had no information for the family; a Rialto Police Department representative told Jessica that her brother was "in custody," leading the family to believe he was alive and had been arrested; at approximately 4:00 a.m. on February 25, 2026 — nearly seven hours after the collision — a Rialto Police Department officer called Jessica and stated "I'm sorry for your loss," which was the first indication the family received that Marcus had died; the department provided no explanation for why Jessica had been told Marcus was in custody when he was in fact deceased.
Jessica Loring seeks damages including but not limited to:
(a) Severe and serious emotional distress resulting from the contemporaneous sensory perception of the injury-producing event that caused the death of her brother; (b) Emotional distress resulting from the misinformation provided by the Rialto Police Department regarding her brother's status and the prolonged delay in accurate notification of his death; (c) Past and future mental and emotional suffering, anxiety, grief, anguish, and loss of quality of life; (d) Past and future costs of psychological and psychiatric treatment and counseling; (e) Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support of her brother Marcus Benjamin Loring (wrongful death); (D) All other damages recoverable under California law.
Jessica Loring resided with Marcus at and maintained an extremely close relationship with her brother.
VI. AMOUNT OF CLAIM
The amount claimed exceeds $10,000.00. Pursuant to Government Code section 910, this is an unlimited civil case in which the recovery sought, exclusive of attorney fees, interest, and court costs, exceeds $25,000.00. The exact amount of damages will be established according to proof at trial.
VIL. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
This claim is based on information presently known to Claimant. Claimant reserves the right to amend or supplement this claim as additional facts are discovered through investigation and formal discovery. The specific description of the acts, omissions, injuries, and damages set forth herein is not intended to be exhaustive, and Claimant reserves the right to assert additional theories of liability, identify additional public employees whose acts or omissions contributed to the injuries and damages described herein, and seek additional categories of damages as permitted by law.
Claimant further reserves the right to assert claims under any and all applicable provisions of California law, including but not limited to Government Code sections 815.2, 815.6, 820, and 820.2, Vehicle Code section 17001, and Code of Civil Procedure sections 377.60 and 377.61.