Verdicts & Settlements
The following summaries are from cases handled by Attorney John LaCava. Every personal injury case is unique and there are many variables that need to be taken into account. Because of this, recoveries in a case may be greater or lesser than recoveries made in similar type cases.
Injuries: Herniated lumbar disc with operation; chronic pain syndrome.
Verdict: $1,050,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff was a fifty (50) year old female who worked in the sales department of an electrical supplier. She was rear ended by the Defendant in a moderate impact collision. The Plaintiff had physical therapy and then a disc operation on the lumbar spine. Subsequent to the surgery, she had chronic, documented pain which rendered her incapable of further work.
Injury: Traumatic brain injury to child.
Recovery: $1,020,000.00 (structured settlement present value)
Facts: The Plaintiff, a 10 year- old boy, was injured in a bicycle accident when struck by Defendants car. The evidence showed that the Defendant was traveling at a high rate of speed through a park and had clear sight lines. The evidence also showed that the boy failed to slow or stop prior to crossing the street.
Injury: Nerve impairment syndrome resulting in substantial disability to the right arm.
Recovery: $800,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a secretary in her 30's, was rear ended while stopped at a red light. There was substantial property damage to Plaintiff's automobile. After an operation by a vascular surgeon was unsuccessful, the Plaintiff was left with a substantial impairment to her right arm, preventing her from returning to her previous employment. The Plaintiff also received social security disability in addition to the above recovery.
Injuries: Construction Accident - multiple fractures of the hip and nerve damage.
Settlement: $750,000.00
Facts: The plaintiff was a construction worker building a stone wall on a residential jobsite. The defendant was the operator of a Caterpillar excavator, who didn't see the plaintiff and pinned him between the excavator and a stone wall, causing severe crushing injuries to the pelvis, as well as traumatic injuries to the internal organs. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the operator of the Caterpillar, the owner of the Caterpillar, the general contractor and the homeowner. Two of the defendant insurance companies disclaimed coverage and filed declaratory judgment actions. The case was settled after mediation for the sum of $750,000.00, with contribution being made by all parties.
Injuries: Multiple fractures of right side, including humerus, pelvis, rib and tibia. Verdict: $645,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff was a sixty two (62) year old retired telephone repairman. He was a pedestrian crossing a street at approximately 8:00 p.m. in the evening when he was struck by the Defendant's car, suffering multiple trauma. The Defendant claimed the Plaintiff was at fault since he was legally intoxicated when hit. The Defendant, however, admitted that he never saw the Plaintiff prior to striking him even though the area was well lit with street lights.
Injuries: Wrong death claims resulting from apartment fire.
Settlement: $630,000.00
Facts: The plaintiffs were a mother and three children who died in an apartment fire in Bridgeport, CT in the early morning hours. The plaintiffs all died from smoke inhalation or fire-related causes. Subsequent investigation by the Fire Marshal's office showed that there were numerous fire code violations at the premises, including a lack of smoke detectors, lack of proper exits and improperly fire rated doors. The defendant landlord's insurance policy had a limit of $500,000.00. The case settled for the full value of the insurance policy, plus an additional contribution from the landlord.
Injuries: Injury to abdomen resulting in loss of eighteen (18) centimeters of colon.
Settlement in the course of trial: $450,000.00
Facts: Plaintiff, a thirty two (32) old female, was in an automobile accident which caused a perforation of the colon. The Plaintiff lost approximately six (6) months of work due to the injury and had continued complaints of gastric problems following the surgery. Prior to trial, the Defendant's highest offer was approximately $175,000.00. After two days of trial, which included testimony from the Plaintiff herself, the case was settled for $450,000.00.
Injury: Disfigurement and scars to the thighs, buttocks and lower back caused by a broken glass.
Recovery: $315,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a 40 year- old woman, was a passenger in an automobile stuck by the Defendant. Broken glass from the passenger window became embedded in Plaintiff's skin, in extremely small pieces, and caused sores and scarring over a 3 year period.
Injuries: Herniated cervical discs requiring fusion with bone graft.
Settlement in the course of trial: $300,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a fifty two (52) year old female, was a passenger in a car that was struck from behind by the Defendant. The Plaintiff's neck pain grew increasingly worse during the following year, finally resulting in surgery for herniated cervical disc. The Defendant claimed that the automobile collision was not the cause of the Plaintiff's neck problem, as the Plaintiff did have a prior medical history of neck problems. The $300,000.00 recovery was in addition to payment of all medical bills.
Injuries: Fall on stairs - Fracture of the ankle, with surgery and hardware.
Settlement: $160,000.00
Facts: The plaintiff was a 40 year-old woman who was leaving her aunt's apartment house, a two family home in Norwalk, CT. As she walked out of the front door, she was caused to fall by a set of defective stairs. The plaintiff was able to show that there was inadequate lighting for the stairs, and that the stairs did not comply with the applicable safety codes. There was no handrail on the stairs, and the risers and treads on the stairs did not conform to building code or fire code standards.
Injury: 15% impairment of the right shoulder.
Verdict: $100,000.00 (reduced by $38,000.00 due to Plaintiff's negligence).
Facts: The Plaintiff, a bank manager in his 30's, was injured when he struck the back of a parked oil truck making an oil delivery. The Plaintiff testified, at trial, that he had been cut off by a city bus and was forced to turn into the oil truck. Defendant's witnesses claimed that the Plaintiff attempted to pass the city bus on the right, immediately before striking the oil truck. Both the oil company and the city bus company were found liable, the Appellate Court of the State of Connecticut upholding the verdict against the city bus company.
Injury: Fracture of the right leg and ankle resulting in 5% impairment to the lower extremity.
Recovery: $170,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a pedestrian, was injured while crossing the street outside the crosswalk. The Defendant claimed that the Plaintiff "walked right out in front of my car." A reconstruction expert hired by Attorney John LaCava, was able to show that the Defendant was exceeding the speed limit and had limited visibility due to the position of the sun.
Injury: Torn ligament in left knee.
Recovery: $80,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a dance instructor in her 40's, was attending a seminar related to dance education at a university. While walking down a set of wide marble stairs, she tripped and fell injuring her knee. The evidence showed that there was an unevenness to the steps and a failure, on the part of the university, to provide adequate hand rails.
Injury: Lower back sprain/strain with disc bulge.
Recovery: $60,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a self- employed glass installer, was struck by the Defendant in a T-bone type accident. The Plaintiff was out of work for approximately one month and was able to prove the loss of 2 contracts due to the injury. He was rated as having a permanent disability to his back.
Injury: Rupture of spleen.
Recovery: $50,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a high school student, was injured while crossing a busy city road. There was some evidence that the Plaintiff was not in the cross walk and was running across the road immediately prior to the accident. The Defendant's insurance company, nevertheless, paid the full value of the Defendant's insurance policy to settle the claim.
Injury: Mental distress from harassing phone calls and improper advances.
Recovery: $25,000.00
Facts: The Plaintiff, a young woman in her 20's, was a domestic worker in a private home. The Defendant, a 70 year- old man, made improper advances towards the Plaintiff who was thereafter terminated for other reasons. Subsequently, the employer made anonymous, harassing phone calls to the Plaintiff.
