Jury Finds David Hoberman's Former Wife 100% At Fault For Crash

MALIBU, CA — In the third trial of the case, a jury found the former wife of the founder of Mandeville Films 100% at fault for the injuries suffered by a woman who was hurt in 2015 when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger collided with an SUV in Malibu.

In assigning complete responsibility to the vehicle's driver, Tia Jeri Hoberman, for the injuries to plaintiff Rosana Levine, the Los Angeles Superior Court panel absolved the Southern California Edison Co. and the city of Malibu of any wrongdoing.

Hoberman was formerly married to Mandeville Films founder David Hoberman, with whom she had three children. David Hoberman, 69, is the son of the late radio executive Ben Hoberman and his 40-plus film producing credits include the 2010 Oscar-nominated drama "The Fighter." He also co-created and executive produced the USA Network television series "Monk."

A second phase of trial to determine Levine's damages is scheduled for June 27.

Levine, then 54, was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by Frank Ross Samuels when Hoberman made a left turn from Harbor Vista Drive onto Malibu Canyon Road. Hoberman allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way and her Audi SUV collided with the motorcycle, which was traveling north on Malibu Canyon Road.

Samuels, now 72, and Levine sued Hoberman, now 52, the city and SCE in July 2015.
Hoberman maintained that her vision was impaired by an allegedly improperly placed Edison power pole and that the city negligently designed the intersection. However, plaintiffs' attorney Christopher Bulone said he argued to jurors that Hoberman should be found 100% at fault for the accident.

Samuels and Levine met on Match.com and had once been in a relationship, but remained friends, Bulone said. Both had a mutual love for the outdoors and on that day, Samuels picked her up for a motorcycle ride about 9:30 a.m. May 2, 2015, the attorney said.
Prior to the accident, which left Levine with leg and ankle injuries that required multiple surgeries, she played tennis and hiked often and was learning to golf with Samuels as her teacher, Bulone said. She also danced and took pride in her health, working out at a gym almost daily, he said.

Edison's lawyers alleged in their court papers that Hoberman was using her cell phone at the time of the collision, talking with her real estate agent about the sale of her nearby home. She claimed she waited five minutes for a break in heavy traffic caused in part by graduation ceremonies at nearby Pepperdine University, according to Edison's court papers.

In addition to the power pole, Hoberman maintained her vision was impaired by a curve and an incline on Malibu Canyon Road, according to Edison's court papers.

Samuels also was hurt in the accident and reached a settlement with Hoberman.

A mistrial was declared in the first trial of the case in February 2020 after Levine fell one day during the lunch hour, possibly in front of prospective jurors. Hoberman's lawyers moved for a mistrial, stating that the jurors' impartiality could have been compromised. The motion was joined by Edison attorneys and was granted by the judge.

The second mistrial occurred a month later in the middle of jury selection, when the Superior Court placed a restriction on jury trials in the early days of the pandemic.

City News Service