Last Updated on February 8, 2022 by CCAR Staff
A Manhattan Beach man is suing two other men, claiming he was run over twice by the driver of a car in a supermarket parking lot in 2020 following a dispute over mask-wearing.
William Todd Robinson’s Torrance Superior Court lawsuit against Alan Boeke and Ronald K. Stevenson alleges battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraudulent transfer. The 69-year-old Robinson seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit brought Thursday.
Boeke and Stevenson could not be immediately reached. Stevenson is identified in the suit as Boeke’s spouse.
Robinson and Boeke were shopping at the Vons store on Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Manhattan Beach on Oct. 2, 2020, when they encountered each other, according to the suit
“Robinson was not wearing a surgical or protective mask while he was shopping and was, in fact, shopping for masks among other items because he had exhausted his supply,” the suit states.
Upon seeing Robinson without a mask, Boeke “engaged in verbal harassment and assault” of the plaintiff, the suit states.
Although Robinson tried to ignore Boeke, the defendant became increasingly loud and belligerent, according to the suit.
“Eventually, plaintiff responded in kind, which led to an exchange of insults between the parties,” the suit states.
Matters appeared to have calmed when a Vons employee gave Robinson a mask and the two men went to different cashier lines, the suit states. However, as Robinson left the store and reached the parking lot, he saw Boeke driving directly at him, the suit states. Robinson tried to avoid being hit, but Boeke turned his vehicle toward him, striking the plaintiff with the front of the defendant’s car, according to the suit.
Robinson fell and was run over by the driver-side front and rear wheels of Boeke’s car, then Boeke backed up the vehicle and again ran over the plaintiff’s legs while he was still on the ground, the suit alleges.
Boeke then sped toward the exit of the parking lot onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard, the suit states.
A Vons worker who was standing near the front doors of the store took a photo of Boeke’s vehicle, which matched the description of the vehicle that Robinson later gave to Manhattan Beach police, the suit states.
Robinson believes that shortly after the incident, Boeke and Stevenson transferred their interest in their personal residence in Manhattan Beach to try to limit the amount of assets available from which the plaintiff could get compensation for his injuries, the suit states.
Robinson has incurred expenses for medicines, X-rays and other medical supplies and services, according to the complaint.
