Actor Pablo Lyle Lopez, currently serving a sentence for involuntary manslaughter in Miami, faces a civil lawsuit that could demand up to US$5 million (more than 90 million Mexican pesos) in damages, but he could be acquitted on a legal technicality.
The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by the son of Juan Ricardo Hernandez, the man who died in 2019 after a traffic altercation in Miami in which Lyle struck him and caused fatal head trauma.
Origin and scope of the lawsuit against Pablo Lyle
The claim seeks to cover funeral expenses, psychological care and loss of income for the widow. The requested compensation is between US$1 million and US$5 million.
Although it does not involve additional criminal charges, the civil process can have a significant economic impact and runs parallel to the enforcement of your sentence.
The key hearing and legal technicality
The first hearing was scheduled for June 2025, but was postponed due to Lyle’s lack of legal representation. Later, the plaintiff family’s attorney also resigned, creating another delay.
The new date established was July 31.
Currently, there is a legal lapse -approximately 20 days after July 31- for the lawsuit to be reactivated.
Failure to do so could result in the case being automatically dismissed, relieving Lyle of the obligation to pay any damages.
Legal experts point out that, even if the process is resumed, the court will evaluate whether the alleged damages are provable and whether the plaintiff has the financial capacity to respond to the sum demanded.
Current status of the actor and its legal horizon
Pablo Lyle is 38 years old, was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, and in February 2023 was sentenced to 5 years in prison, eight years probation, and 500 hours of community service for involuntary manslaughter in Miami.
He is being held at the Everglades Correctional Institution.
It is anticipated that he could be eligible for early release in December 2026, if he serves 85% of his sentence and maintains good behavior.
Pablo Lyle saldría de la cárcel en un año y medio y la intención del actor es volver a trabajar en proyectos de televisión y cine para pagar sus deudas
Do Latinos support it or not?
Buzzy
This case is relevant to Latinos in the U.S. for two main reasons:
It shows how a public figure can face different civil and criminal consequences, even long after the fact.
It illustrates how procedural factors, such as lack of lawyers or tight legal deadlines, can change the course of a million-dollar lawsuit.
For Hispanic residents living between two legal systems (U.S. and Mexico), this case underscores the importance of understanding the differences between the criminal and civil systems, and how complex legal processes can affect a person’s liberty and wealth.
The civil suit against Pablo Lyle for damages is in legal quarantine: if it is not reactivated within a short period of time (less than three weeks after July 31), it could be automatically dismissed.
In this scenario, Lyle would be released from paying a million-dollar fine, although he will continue to serve his criminal sentence. The outcome of this process will mark a key chapter in his judicial and economic situation.
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