Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner Attorneys Alan Rome and Kristin Thomas.
Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner Partner Alan Rome and Attorney Kristin Thomas secured a jury verdict June 9 in favor of a mother and her young daughters injured in a 2022 head-on collision in Preston, Conn., that will result in a total award likely to exceed $1.1 million when interest and punitive damages are added.
That total stands in stark contrast to initial settlement offers for Amanda Tomlinson and her two daughters, Keira and Penelope, that totaled $125,000 and were withdrawn just before jury selection was set to begin.
“This case highlights why those injured in any kind of accident in Connecticut – whether a car, truck, or motorcycle crash, a slip-and-fall, or a workplace mishap – must retain experienced Personal Injury attorneys,” said Attorney Rome, who also credited Attorney Joe Gillis and paralegal Valerie Frazier for their work on the case.
“While the children in this case recovered from most of their physical injuries in three months and the mother after nine months, our experience enabled us to comprehensively document the seriousness of their injuries, losses, and post-traumatic stress in a way the jury found very persuasive,” Attorney Rome added.
The New London Superior Court jury verdict awarded a total of $791,707, which will increase to $883,673 when interest is added, and likely exceed $1.1 million with the addition of punitive damages anticipated to total between $250,000 and $300,000.
The jury instructed the court to award punitive damages to the plaintiffs based on finding that they proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the conduct of defendant Pamela Dole was reckless. Ms. Dole was represented by Ed Gasser of the Gasser Law Firm, who vigorously defended the case.
The lawsuit filed by Attorneys Rome and Thomas on behalf of the Tomlinsons alleged that the defendant committed negligence, common law recklessness, and statutory recklessness. The defendant admitted crossing the center line and failing to operate the motor vehicle with proper control, and the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs on all counts.
The collision occurred in the Eastern Connecticut town of Preston on Jan. 31, 2022, when the defendant, Pamela Dole, crossed the center line on Route 2 in her 2002 Honda – suddenly and without warning – and struck the 2020 Ford being driven by Amanda Tomlinson.
Tomlinson suffered a fractured sternum, one of her daughters suffered a fractured clavicle, and the other child had an injured shoulder – though all experienced anxiety and post-traumatic stress caused by experience of being involved in a head-on collision and the threat of harm to both children, who were restrained in a car seat and a booster seat.
About Attorney Rome
Partner Alan Rome leads the RCKK Law Personal Injury Team with Partner Chris Sica and Partner Steven Katz. His practice also includes general litigation, Family Law, and criminal matters. He has extensive litigation experience in all areas, including Workers’ Compensation. To learn more, see his profile page. He may be reached by email at arome@rckklaw.com, or by phone at 860-232-3000.
About Attorney Thomas
Attorney Kristin Thomas focuses her practice on litigation, including Personal Injury, Employment Law, and Medical Malpractice, in Massachusetts and Connecticut courts. To learn more, see her profile page. Attorney Thomas may be reached by email at kthomas@rckklaw.com, or by phone at 860-232-3000.
About RCKK Law
Rome, Clifford Katz & Koerner is a Hartford-based law firm whose attorneys collectively have nearly 100 years of experience in a wide variety of legal areas. Whether you are dealing with a motor vehicle accident, a Workers’ Compensation injury, or a Family Law matter, our skilled lawyers will aggressively advocate on your behalf. We represent individuals and businesses in Connecticut and throughout the New England states.