On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, The Voice of San Francisco reported that San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan, who recently faced scrutiny for his handling of a vehicular manslaughter case, is set to retire this year. Chan’s term is slated to end in 2029, but he is choosing to retire earlier.

The controversy stems from a case involving Mary Fong Lau, an 80-year-old woman who pleaded no contest to four felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. The charges relate to a tragic incident nearly two years ago when Lau’s vehicle struck and killed Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, his wife, Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, 38, and their 1-year-old son, Joaquim Ramos Pinto de Oliveira. The family was waiting at a bus stop near the West Portal Muni Station. A second child, 3-month-old Cauê Ramos Pinto de Oliveira, was also hospitalized but later died from his injuries.

Judge Chan expressed sympathy for Lau, stating that it was unlikely she would serve jail time or be mandated to perform community service. He cited Lau’s age, lack of criminal history, and expressions of remorse as factors in his decision. Chan also noted that Lau’s husband had died in a car accident. He suggested Lau would likely receive probation for two to three years, during which she would be prohibited from driving. He stated that imprisoning Lau would amount to a death sentence, given her age.

Critics argue that Chan’s leniency is inappropriate, particularly in light of allegations that Lau is transferring assets to avoid financial penalties from a wrongful death civil suit filed by the surviving parents of Cardoso de Oliveira and Ramos Pinto. The family alleges Lau transferred assets to new limited liability companies and third parties, including her son-in-law, to shield millions of dollars from potential judgments.

The case has drawn comparisons to other instances in San Francisco where transportation-related deaths resulted in lenient outcomes. The article references the case of Chris Bucchere, a cyclist who struck and killed 71-year-old Sutchi Hui in 2012. Bucchere received a reduced charge and community service after surveillance video showed the light turned red as he entered the intersection. Another case mentioned is that of Farrukh Mushtaq, who fatally struck bicyclist Katherine Slattery in 2016 and faced criticism for receiving what some considered a lenient sentence.

 

 

Source: The Voice of San Francisco