Phil Oates $15.8 Million Wrongful Death Verdict, Miranda Flores Awarded Damages After Fatal Granite Bay Crash
A Placer County, California jury has awarded $15.8 million to Miranda Flores, the widow of retired California Highway Patrol officer Patrick Seamus Mulderrig. Mulderrig, 59, died after a May 14, 2024 collision in Granite Bay with a vehicle driven by Sacramento developer Philip “Phil” Oates, chairman of Buzz Oates and a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.
The 12-person jury returned a unanimous verdict on September 28, 2026. The case is Flores v. Oates, Philip David, Placer County Superior Court, Case No. S-CV-0055034.
This was a jury verdict, not a settlement. It is also an individual lawsuit. There is no claim form and no deadline, and no one else can claim a share of the award.
Quick Facts: Flores v. Oates Wrongful Death Verdict
| Detail | Information |
| Verdict amount | $15.8 million |
| Verdict date | September 28, 2026 (unanimous, 12-0) |
| Plaintiff | Miranda Flores |
| Decedent | Patrick Seamus Mulderrig, age 59, retired CHP officer |
| Defendant | Philip David Oates |
| Court | Placer County Superior Court, California |
| Case number | S-CV-0055034 |
| Incident | May 14, 2024, Douglas Boulevard near Kingsgate Drive, Granite Bay |
| Damages sought vs. argued | About $45 million requested by plaintiff; about $4 million argued by defense |
| Punitive damages | Not sought |
| Public claim form or deadline | None |
What Happened in the May 2024 Granite Bay Crash That Killed Patrick Mulderrig?
Mulderrig was riding his motorcycle west on Douglas Boulevard on the evening of May 14, 2024. Oates was driving a Cadillac in the opposite direction and turned left near Kingsgate Drive, and the vehicles collided. Mulderrig was critically injured and later died.
The responding CHP officer wrote in his report that Oates was responsible because he turned left in front of Mulderrig. The officer referred the crash to the Placer County District Attorney as a possible misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter case, with no gross negligence involved.
Was Phil Oates Criminally Charged After the Granite Bay Crash?
No. Oates was not charged or cited. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office declined to file a vehicular manslaughter case, saying the evidence was not enough to prove a criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt.
Civil and criminal cases use different standards of proof, so the decision did not prevent Flores from suing for damages.
What Did Miranda Flores Claim Against Phil Oates?
Flores sued in April 2025 for wrongful death. She sought compensation for the loss of her husband and for his fear, pain and suffering before he died. She did not seek punitive damages.
Did Phil Oates Accept Responsibility for the Crash?
Yes. Trial reporting says Oates accepted responsibility for causing the collision, so the jury’s job was to decide damages. Reporting from the trial also says Oates testified he did not see Mulderrig before turning.
How Much Did the Jury Award Miranda Flores, and How Did It Compare With What Each Side Asked?
The jury awarded $15.8 million. Flores’ attorneys had asked for about $45 million. Oates’ attorney argued for about $4 million.
The public reporting reviewed does not include the verdict form, so this article does not break the $15.8 million into categories such as economic loss, loss of companionship or pain and suffering.
Was the $15.8 Million Phil Oates Award a Settlement?
No. A settlement is an agreement between the parties. Here, no settlement was reached and the jury decided the damages after hearing the evidence. Flores’ attorneys have publicly criticized Oates’ insurer for taking the case to trial instead of settling. That is the plaintiff’s side of the dispute, not a court finding.
What Happens After the Flores v. Oates Verdict?
Next come entry of judgment and any post-trial steps. The defense could ask the trial judge for a new trial or a reduced award, or appeal to the California Court of Appeal. Check the Placer County docket before describing the judgment as final. No post-trial motion or appeal has been confirmed in the reporting reviewed.
Can Other Crash Victims File a Claim Against the Phil Oates Verdict?
No. The verdict belongs to Miranda Flores’ individual wrongful-death case. It is not a class action, and no fund or claim process exists. Someone hurt in a different crash would need a separate claim with its own deadlines.
Does the Flores v. Oates Verdict Set the Value of Other California Wrongful Death Cases?
No. Wrongful-death awards depend on the facts of each case, including the relationship to the deceased, economic and non-economic losses, the evidence presented and state law.
Key Dates in Flores v. Oates
| Event | Date |
| Fatal Granite Bay crash | May 14, 2024 |
| Lawsuit filed | April 2025 |
| Jury seated; opening statements | September 14–15, 2026 |
| Unanimous jury verdict | September 28, 2026 |
| Public claim deadline | None |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Phil Oates $15.8 Million Verdict
Is the Phil Oates verdict a class action?
No. It is an individual wrongful-death case with one plaintiff and one defendant.
Which court decided Flores v. Oates?
The Placer County Superior Court in Auburn, California, in Case No. S-CV-0055034.
Is the $15.8 million taxable?
Damages received on account of physical injury or death are generally excluded from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2), but tax treatment varies. The recipient should confirm with a tax professional.
Can Phil Oates appeal the verdict?
Yes, the defense has the usual post-trial options, including a motion for a new trial and an appeal.
Related Articles on AllAboutLawyer
- What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need to Know
- Jaahnavi Kandula Lawsuit Settled For $29 Million—Seattle Pays Family After Police Officer Killed Indian Student At 74 MPH 2026
Sources and Court Records
- Placer County Superior Court, Case No. S-CV-0055034, Flores, Miranda vs. Oates, Philip David (case number and parties per the court’s published calendar; verify the current docket).
- CBS News Sacramento, “Placer County jury awards $15.8M in wrongful-death case against developer Phil Oates,” September 28, 2026: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/phil-oats-wrongful-death-crash-jury-verdict/
- FOX40, “Jury awards $15.8M to widow of man killed in crash with Sacramento developer”: https://fox40.com/news/local-news/phil-oates-fatal-crash-trial-jury-verdict/
- Reporting on the verdict, including the amounts requested by each side, is largely based on statements from the plaintiff’s attorneys.
About the Author
Israr Ahmad is a legal content researcher covering U.S. lawsuits, court records and civil litigation, explaining legal developments in plain English from documented sources.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Laws, deadlines and remedies vary by state and case.
About the Author
Israr Ahmad is a legal content researcher with 4+ years of experience covering class action settlements and consumer rights cases. He has researched and published coverage of 2,500+ settlements using verified court records, settlement administrator filings, and government sources. Learn more about Israr.