Case Results

Personal Injury

Buchanon v. J&A Equities

Outcome: $1,200,000 plus confidential settlement

A guest of a tenant at a multifamily property suffered a significant spinal cord injury after falling down a poorly lit stairway. He was turned down by several firms because his initial hospital records stated that he was intoxicated and they felt that it was unlikely that there would be any available insurance on the property. After thoroughly investigating the matter, Attorney Bartlett found numerous safety violations in the stairway, he located four commercial insurance policies that provided coverage and was able to show, through the use of a toxicologist, that the plaintiff’s testimony that he had one to two beers prior to his fall was credible. In light of this, Attorney Bartlett was able to negotiate a settlement of $1,200,000 with three defendants in addition to a confidential settlement with the fourth defendant. One of the top 2019 verdicts and settlements in New England.

Slip and Fall Accident

Workplace Fall results in substantial settlement

Settlement: Confidential

The Plaintiff slipped and fell on a wet floor while she was at work. The Defendants were a company that was hired to manage the custodial services at the Plaintiff’s employer. The Defendant argued that they were not liable and that the Plaintiff should have been aware that the floor was wet. The Plaintiff sustained a torn rotator cuff that resulted in surgery. Attorney Grippe was able to secure a very favorable settlement for the Plaintiff.

motorcycle/car accident

Motorcycle accident results in settlement of $275,000

Outcome: $275,000

The Plaintiff was riding a motorcycle in New Haven when a vehicle turned in front of him causing the vehicles to collide. The Plaintiff sustained a fractured leg requiring surgery. The Defendants disputed liability and argued that the Plaintiff was operating is motorcycle at an excessive rate of speed. Attorney Grippe was able to secure a settlement of $275,000 despite the defendants claims.

Personal Injury

Exposure to Legionnaires Disease leads to substantial settlement

Settlement: Confidential

The Plaintiff was exposed to legionella bacteria while staying in a hotel. As a result of the exposure the Plaintiff contracted Legionnaires disease requiring a long hospitalization. The Plaintiff brought a lawsuit against the owner of the hotel as well a manager of the hotel alleging that the water system was not properly maintained. Attorney Grippe retained some of the top legionnaires experts in the country to assist with the prosecution of the case. The Defendants initially disputed that they were at fault but eventually offered to engage in a mediation and offered a substantil sum to resolve the lawsuit.

Personal Injury

Donna M. v. Siemens

Outcome: $200,000 settlement

The plaintiff was rear-ended in stop and go traffic on Interstate 91. After her first attorney told her that her case had very little value because there was almost no property damage and she had prior injuries to her back, she fired that attorney and hired Attorney Bartlett. Attorney Bartlett was able to show how her prior back injury made her more susceptible to a subsequent injury from a low-speed collision and was able to use this to negotiate a $200,000 settlement.

Personal Injury

Colleen B. v. 1-3 Long Wharf Drive

Outcome: $520,000 plaintiff’s verdict

Personal Injury – slip wins $520,000 verdict for woman who suffered an ankle sprain and injuries to her lower back which required surgery after stepping in a depression in a parking lot.

Personal Injury

Trofatter, Kirk v. D & D Builders, LLC

Outcome: $375,000 Settlement

Resident injured after falling through a faulty fire escape at a 60 unit apartment complex in East Haven. Mr. Kirk Trofatter broke his kneecap, upper leg, and left shoulder. The defense argued that Mr. Trofatter shouldn’t have been on the fire escape, but during the property owner’s deposition by Attorney Bartlett, the owner said he inspected the stairs weekly and knew the stairs were rusted. Bartlett also found there had been two previous injuries on other stairs located at this complex but the owners only repaired those specific stairs rather than all the defective stairs. The building owner’s insurance company refused to settle for higher than $150,000. Judge Jonathan Silbert, after hearing the owner knew of the defect and had similar incidents felt that the suit was worth $375,000, at which point both sides settled.

This case appeared in the Connecticut Law Tribune 02/09/18 Man Injured by Collapse of Rusted Steps Reaches $375K Settlement

Personal Injury

Emmanual R. v. Oracle Lounge

Outcome: $449,000 Plaintiff’s Verdict

$449,000 judgment for a bar patron who suffered a head injury when assaulted at a New Haven night club. Bartlett & Grippe, LLC has handled many cases related to alcohol-related injuries. They have taken cases of this type through the Appellate Court and were successful before the Supreme Court.

Child Abuse

Dawn Andalora v. Joseph Falanga

Outcome: Plaintiff’s Verdict of $2,750,000

Seven-year-old child sexually abused 40 years ago awarded $3,188,803

A Willimantic, CT jury awarded Dawn Andalora $2.75 million dollars for sexual abuse she alleges she suffered at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend between 1974 and 1981. Almost all medical records were unavailable. Ms. Andalora feels vindication that it wasn’t her fault.

11/05/2014 Judge Harry E Calmar issued an order awarding additional punitive damages of $438,803.95.

Car / Auto Accident

Woman’s Car Struck at Stop Light Receives $125,000 Settlement

Outcome: $125,000 Settlement

A woman was stopped at a stoplight when she was struck from behind by a distracted driver sustaining injuries to her head, shoulder, and back. Despite prior injuries to the same areas, Attorney Bartlett was able to negotiate a favorable settlement on behalf of the plaintiff.

Wrongful Death

CT Teen Killed in Car Crash

Outcome: Policy Limit Settlement

Two CT teens were killed in a car crash after driving down the road at a high rate of speed. The driver of the first vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, killing the driver and passenger. After being told by numerous attorneys that they did not have a case because the second vehicle never struck the first, the family came to Attorney Bartlett. After initially receiving a denial from the second vehicle’s insurer because there was no contact between the vehicles, Attorney Bartlett was able to negotiate a settlement for the second vehicle’s full insurance policy limits.

Wrongful Death

Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Tractor Trailer on Highway. Estate Receives $234,000 Settlement

Outcome: $234,000 Settlement for Family

A young woman was walking across Interstate 91 when she was struck and killed by a passing tractor-trailer. Despite the defendant’s arguments that the plaintiff was highly intoxicated and under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident, and that the tractor-trailer driver was unable to avoid the collision due to other pedestrians on the roadway, Attorney Bartlett negotiated a favorable settlement for the victim’s family after pursuing claims against the tractor-trailer driver as well as the operator of the vehicle in which the plaintiff was previously a passenger.

Car / Auto Accident

Woman Rear-Ended in Stop and Go Traffic Obtains $70,000 Verdict

Outcome: $70,000 Plaintiff Verdict

A woman was struck from behind in stop and go traffic on the Merritt Parkway sustaining injuries to her neck and lower back. Due to the nature of the collision and the fact that the plaintiff had pre-existing injuries, the defendant insurer refused to provide the plaintiff with a reasonable offer. Following a two-day trial, the jury provided the plaintiff with the validation she deserved, awarding her $70,000.

Slip and Fall Accident

Tenant Who Fractures Her Ankle on Stairway Receives $150,000

Outcome: $150,000 Plaintiff Settlement

An elderly woman tripped and fell on a poorly constructed stairway suffering a bimalleolar fracture to her ankle requiring surgery. Defense counsel argued that the plaintiff was aware of the alleged defect in the stairway due to the fact that she used the stairway on a daily basis for the several years in which she was a tenant at the property. The defense further argued that the stairway was so poorly constructed, that the defects in the stairway were open and obvious to the plaintiff. In spite of these arguments, Attorney Bartlett was able to obtain a $150,000 settlement for the plaintiff.

Personal Injury

Man Struck by Freezer Door Recovers $60,000

Outcome: $60,000 Recovery for Plaintiff

An elderly man was struck by a freezer door that was improperly attached during its delivery and installation, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and lower back. The defense disputed the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries and pointed to the plaintiff’s history of multiple work-related injuries as the source of his current complaints.

Personal Injury

Bicyclist Struck by Car Receives $74,000

Outcome: $74,000 Settlement

A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle emerging from a gas station, sustaining injuries to his lower back. Despite a significant history of prior injuries and defense witnesses who testified that the vehicle was moving at less than 5 miles per hour and the defendant was not knocked to the ground, Attorney Bartlett was able to negotiate a $74,000 settlement on behalf of the plaintiff. Attorney Bartlett was the third attorney representing the plaintiff, as the plaintiff fired his first two attorneys after they recommended the plaintiff accept the insurance company’s offer of $15,000.

Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and Fall Yields $190,000 Settlement

Outcome: $190,000 plaintiff settlement

A man who slipped and fell at an area hotel sustaining injuries to his head and neck and a mild traumatic brain injury with resulting cognitive deficits settled his claims for $190,000. The hotel and property management company alleged that the fall occurred during an ongoing storm and further disputed the nature and extent of the plaintiff’s injuries. Through the utilization of weather and medical experts, Attorney Bartlett was able to reach a settlement of the plaintiff’s claims following mediation.

Child Abuse

$1,000,000 Judgment for Plaintiff in Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Case

Outcome: $1,000,000 settlement

John Roe #1 v. Boy Scouts of America, et al. – $1,000,000 judgment obtained against a Boy Scout scoutmaster on behalf of a young boy who suffered sexual abuse at scouting events and at a local Boy Scout camp. Bartlett & Grippe, LLC is nationally recognized for its work related to Boy Scout sexual abuse cases. Many personal injury case settlements are confidential and can’t be shown under our results.

Slip and Fall Accident

Workplace fall results in $105,000 settlement

Outcome: $105,000 plaintiff settlement

A woman suffers a knee-cap fracture from a workplace fall. The plaintiff was working as a parts washer when she was caused to slip and fall on a wet floor at her workplace. The defendant cleaning company argued that they had posted signs warning of the wet floor and that the plaintiff fell on the water she had spilled while washing parts. Through depositions of the defendant’s employees, Attorney Bartlett was able to develop significant inconsistencies in the defendants’ claimed version of events, which lead to a $105,000 settlement after mediation.

Wrongful Death

Homeless man struck and killed by passing vehicle

Outcome: Settlement – policy limit

A homeless man was walking across the Berlin Turnpike when he was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. Despite the fact that the police report exonerated the driver of the vehicle, who was a prominent medical professional, and found the homeless man responsible for the accident, through the use of our own accident reconstruction we were able to negotiate a settlement for the full policy limits of the driver’s automobile insurance.

Medical Malpractice

Failure to Diagnose Detached Retina results in Confidential Settlement

Outcome: confidential settlement

Plaintiff presented to a neuro-ophthalmologist after experiencing a partial loss of vision in his right eye. He was examined and discharged after being told that his loss of vision was permanent and that no corrective action could be taken. Several months later, the plaintiff began experiencing a distortion of his field of vision and was referred to a second neuro-ophthalmologist who diagnosed the plaintiff with a detached retina and performed an emergency surgical repair. Despite the restoration of the plaintiff’s full field of vision, the plaintiff suffered from permanent loss of acuity, pain, and fatigue in his right eye as a result of the more invasive procedure necessitated by the delay in diagnosis. Following mediation, the parties were able to reach a confidential settlement.

Car / Auto Accident

Disputed liability car accident results in $115,000 Plaintiff’s Verdict

Outcome: Jury Verdict for the Plaintiff $115,000

Cintya Sandi-Torres v. Rong Lou, et al – The plaintiff suffered injuries to her neck and lower back following a motor vehicle accident wherein her vehicle was struck by another vehicle making a left-hand turn in front of her. Although the defendant’s disputed liability and argued that the plaintiff’s injuries were worth only a few thousand dollars, the jury found the defendant 100% liable and awarded the plaintiff $115,000.

Car / Auto Accident

CT Auto Injury Verdict for the Plaintiff

Outcome: Plaintiffs verdict of $55,000

A woman who suffered neck and back injuries in an auto accident refused a settlement offer of $4,000 per the advice of Attorney Bartlett. After a two day trial, she was awarded $55,000.

Landlord / Tenant

Tenant v. Landlord in a Fire Liability Case

Outcome: Confidential Settlement

Negotiated confidential settlement of a complex fire liability case on behalf of 52 tenants of an apartment complex who were displaced and whose personal possessions were destroyed in a massive fire. Our investigation of the building construction and who was at fault led to a satisfactory settlement for all our clients that were left homeless.

Motorcycle Accident

Frank B. v. Geico Insurance Company

Outcome: $300,000 Settlement

Motorcycle accident results in a $300,000 policy limit settlement. A motorcycle rider who suffered a broken leg after being forced off the road by an oncoming car who fled the scene and was never identified.

Medical Malpractice

Liane R. v. Johnson Memorial Hospital

Outcome: $375,000 Settlement

$375,000 settlement on behalf of a woman who alleged that emergency room physicians at Johnson Memorial Hospital failed to diagnose a brain hemorrhage following a fall. The patient suffered from injuries that left her with continuing physical and cognitive limitations.

Wrongful Death

Patient v. Nursing Home

Outcome: Confidential Settlement

Wrongful Death – confidential settlement on behalf of the estate of a patient who suffered a subdural hematoma as a result of a slip and fall accident at a nursing home. The patient’s family alleged that, despite numerous prior falls, the nursing home failed to take adequate precautions to prevent the patient’s fall.

Personal Injury

Tyler F. v. Demkowicz Management, LLC

Outcome: $360,000 plaintiff’s verdict

Bar fight injury wins $360,000 judgment for a bar patron who suffered a broken jaw when assaulted by a former security guard at the night club who was terminated just days before the fight.

Personal Injury

Wood v. Club, LLC

Outcome: $300,000 plaintiff’s verdict

$300,000 personal injury verdict for bar patron who was struck on the head with a glass bottle sustaining lacerations to his ear and injuries to his neck and jaw. Jury finds the bar was held liable.

Appeals

Wood v. Club, LLC

Outcome: $300,000 plaintiff’s verdict affirmed

Defendant appealed the case to the CT Appellate Court -Attorney Frank Bartlett successfully defends the appeal of $300,000 plaintiff’s verdict. Connecticut Appellate Court affirms the judgment, rejecting all of the defendants’ claims.

Appeals

Wood v. Club, LLC

Outcome: $300,000 plaintiff’s verdict affirmed

Defendant appeals to the Supreme Court -Shortly after oral arguments before the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court dismisses the defendant’s appeal stating that certification to appeal was “improvidently granted”. Watch the video of the trial on the home page.

Elder Law

Estate of Walter R. v. Peggy A.

Outcome: Plaintiff’s Verdict of $165,000

Elder abuse – $165,000 verdict against a caregiver who had misappropriated bank accounts and other property of an elderly client.