After Plea Deal, Phoong Law Asks Court to Give Hiroko Abe Her Day in Court

SACRAMENTO, Calif., October 12, 2026: Phoong Law Corporation has asked the San Francisco Superior Court to give Hiroko Abe her day in court, after the San Francisco District Attorney’s office accepted a plea deal for Troy McAlister, the parolee who killed her daughter, Hanako Abe, on New Year’s Eve 2020.

On or around October 9, 2026, Phoong Law filed a petition on Mrs. Abe’s behalf asking a judge to allow her to bring a civil lawsuit against the State of California over Hanako’s death.

Background

On New Year’s Eve 2020, 27-year-old Hanako Abe was walking near Second and Mission Streets in San Francisco when a stolen vehicle driven by Troy McAlister, a parolee, struck and killed her. Sixty-year-old Elizabeth Platt was also killed in the crash.

On March 4, 2026, Phoong Law Corporation, led by founder and attorney Anh Phoong and attorney Diana Thomas, filed a government claim against the State of California on behalf of the Abe family. The claim names the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). At the center of the case is an internal parole email that reportedly instructed agents not to search for violations and not to assist outside law enforcement agencies. Read our March post: Phoong Law Files Claim Against California State Parole on Behalf of Hanako Abe’s Family.

A Plea Deal Over the Family’s Objections

As The Voice SF reported on October 8, 2026, the San Francisco District Attorney’s office accepted a plea deal for Mr. McAlister over the Abe family’s objections.

The Petition

The petition, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, asks the court to allow Mrs. Abe to move forward with her civil lawsuit against the State. Phoong Law argues that the government should not be allowed to mislead the family and then say Mrs. Abe missed the deadline to file her claim.

Statement from Attorney Anh Phoong

“My client, Mrs. Abe waited nearly six years for Troy McAlister to be tried for killing Hanako and she is angry about this plea deal. She feels completely let down by the justice system and I don’t blame her. On October 9, I filed a petition with the San Francisco Superior Court asking a Judge to allow Mrs. Abe her day in court, but the State wants to take that away from her too. We argue that, under the fairness doctrine of equitable estoppel, the government cannot actively mislead Mrs. Abe for years, as we allege they did by hiding evidence of SF Parole’s misconduct known to them internally, then later argue Mrs. Abe missed the claim deadline because she didn’t file a claim against the State within 6 months of Hanako’s death. The State will fight us on this because they would prefer to quietly resolve McAlister’s criminal case and shut down Mrs. Abe’s chance to file her civil lawsuit. This justice system has failed the Abe family over and over again and the civil lawsuit is their last chance. I intend to fight, and will do everything in my power, to ensure Hiroko Abe has her day in court.”

Anh Phoong, Founder and Attorney, Phoong Law Corporation

Media Coverage

• The Voice SF, October 8, 2026: San Francisco district attorney’s office accepts plea deal for Hanako Abe killer Troy McAlister over her family’s objections
• The Voice SF, March 4, 2026: Voice of San Francisco report on parole agent’s failure to supervise Troy McAlister leads to legal action
• Dion Lim on X, March 4, 2026: Anh Phoong on why Phoong Law took the Abe family’s case

More coverage is expected.

What’s Next

The next hearing in Mr. McAlister’s criminal case is scheduled for October 14, 2026. A hearing on Mrs. Abe’s petition is scheduled for on or around October 28, 2026. We will post updates here.

About Phoong Law Corporation

Phoong Law Corporation is a Sacramento-based law firm founded by attorney Anh Phoong. The firm helps people and families harmed by negligence, including government negligence. To learn more, visit phoonglaw.com or call 866-GOT-PAIN.

Attorney Advertising. This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Allegations have not been proven in court. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.