Published Decisions and Verdicts
Connecticut Supreme Court
Hansen v. Ohio Casualty Insurance Company, 239 Conn. 537, 687 A.2d 1262 (1996), Justice Robert I. Berdon
In this landmark decision the Connecticut Supreme Court allowed shareholders to collect underinsured motorist benefits on a corporate policy. Attorney Zito represented the plaintiff and won at the trial court level. The decision was appealed and upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court where she collaborated on the brief.
Northrop v. Allstate Insurance Co., 247 Conn. 242, 720 A.2d 879 (1998), Justice David M. Borden, December 1, 1998
In the Connecticut Supreme Court decision, our office made groundbreaking law in the insurance field. The Connecticut Supreme Court, by unanimous decision, agreed with our interpretation of a homeowner's insurance policy, allowing homeowners to collect money due under their insurance policies. This decision has been cited throughout the country and has made it much easier for homeowners to collect monies due to them under their insurance policies.
Falco v. Institute of Living, 254 Conn. 321, 757 A2d 571 (2000), Justice Flemming L. Norcott, Jr., August 22, 2000
In this case, our office argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court in a Special Session held at Wesleyan University. This groundbreaking case involved the rights to confidential information and privacy of inpatient psychiatric patients.
Federal District Court for the District of Connecticut
Smith v. Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 174 F.R.D. 250 (1997, D. Conn.), Judge Donna Fatsi Martinez, July 21, 1997
In this Federal Court case, the Court agreed with our firm's position that the insurance company must provide documentation contained within its files concerning how and why the company denied our client's insurance claim. The Court also ordered the insurance company's expert to return to a deposition and ordered the insurance company to pay expenses and costs. This decision has been published throughout the country in support of cases requiring insurance companies to prove and provide documentation for the reasons and basis for decisions on insurance claims.
Superior Court of Connecticut
Savin Rock Condo. Assoc. v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., (JD of New Haven) Judge John T. Downey, November 13 1987
An insurance law decision of first impression, this case dealt with the rights of a condominium unit owner to collect for damages to compensate him for his interests as a result of water damage.
Vandrilla v. Middlesex Mutual Assurance Co., 10 Conn. L. Rptr. 499 (JD of Tolland), Judge Harry Hammer, December 6, 1993
Our Firm made law in this case, when an appraisal award was vacated due to the fact that the umpire had not been properly sworn, as required by the Connecticut General Statutes.
Branford Savings Bank v. Aetna Casualty and Surety Company of Illinois, 12 Conn. L. Rptr. 674 (1994) (JD of New Haven), Judge Ronald J. Francasse, November 3, 1994
In this case of first impression, the court agreed with our client's position that as a mortgage holder on personal property, it was entitled to be paid when one of the borrower's inventory was damaged in a fire.
Vandrilla v. Middlesex Mutual Assurance Co., 12 Conn. L. Rptr. 610 (1994) (JD of Tolland), Judge Harry Hammer, November 17, 1994
In this case our office resisted the insurance company's efforts to have an unfair insurance practices count of a lawsuit dismissed. The insurance company argued that the jury must first find it responsible for damages under the insurance policy before the jury should be able to hear evidence of the insurance company's alleged misconduct and unfair insurance practices. The court agreed with our office's argument. After extensive briefing and oral argument, the court permitted the trial to go forward with the breach of contract and unfair insurance practices counts. This case ultimately ended in settlement with a resolution in favor of our client.
Maffeo v. Harbour Landing Condominium Assoc. Inc., 13 Conn. L. Rptr. 37 (1994) (JD of New Haven), Judge Beverley Hodgson, November 22, 1994
In an insurance issue of first impression, the Court denied the insurance company's efforts to dismiss the lawsuit brought by an injured party. The Condominium Association argued that unit owners could not make a claim against the association for negligence. The court disagreed and permitted the case to go forward. Ultimately, this resulted in payment to our client.
L.F.I., Inc. v. Pagilarulo, 14 Conn. L. Rptr. 259 (1995) (JD of New Haven), Judge John W. Moran, May 5, 1995
In this case the Court upheld our office's efforts to allow an out-of-state injured party to collect and to bring a claim within the state of Connecticut.
Walker v. Allstate Insurance Company, 21 Conn. L Rptr. 111(JD of New Haven) Judge Beverly J. Hodgson, August 5, 1997
In this case, our office successfully obtained a judgment by confirming an appraisal award that provided damages for our client. In addition, the Court awarded interest on the award running from the date of the judgment.
Alderman v. SCJ, Inc., 2003 WL 231669 (2003) (JD of Fairfield) Judge Richard E. Arnold, January 9, 2003
Our firm successfully argued that the plaintiff's complaint in this case failed to allege his fraud claim sufficiently and did not properly plead a CUTPA violation. A motion to strike both of these counts from the complaint was granted in favor of our client.
Keegan v. New London County Mutual Insurance Company, 2005 WL 2854006 (2005) (JD of New Haven), Judge Frank S. Meadow, October 11, 2005
In this case the Court rendered judgment in favor of our client against the insurance company for windstorm damagers. Our client's pool and other property were damaged by a windstorm and the insurance company refused to pay our client for the claim. After trial, judgment was rendered against the insurance company and in favor of our client.
Parrilla v. Travelers Insurance Co., 2005 WL 2650779 (2005) (JD of New Haven) Judge Bruce L. Levin, September 27, 2005
In this case, the Court rejected the insurance company's efforts to dismiss a homeowner's lawsuit where the insurance company claimed misrepresentation and fraud in connection with the presentation of a property insurance claim. The case ultimately resolved in our client's favor.
Ferraro v. Jaser, 40 Conn. L. Rptr. 285 (2005) (JD of New Haven), Judge Eddie Rodriguez Jr., November 7, 2005
Our office successfully argued that the buyer of a condominium has an absolute right to void an agreement within five days of their receipt of various disclosure agreements.
Verdicts and Settlements
2003 Confidential Settlement (JD of New Haven)
Our firm obtained a confidential settlement against a large grocery chain where our client sustained head injuries as a result of a display in the store being left unattended.
Brisart v. A. Panella & Sons Oil Co., (JD of New Haven)
In this case our office obtained $750,000.00 for our client who sustained head injuries when a truck rolled into his store. Serious injuries and damages occurred.
Fenn v. Mattuzzo, (JD of Ansonia/Milford)
In this case our office obtained the full policy limits on all available insurance policy coverage for compensation of $700,000.00.
2002 Confidential Settlement, (J.D. of New Haven)
Our firm obtained a settlement of $590,000. The settlement, under a confidentiality agreement, was against a heating and air conditioning company whose van struck our client, causing both injuries and damages.
Bassett v. Waldbaums, (JD of Fairfield at Bridgeport)
In this case our client slipped and fell on broken eggs near the checkout counter of a supermarket. Subsequently, she developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy and incurred substantial medical bills in her care and treatment. A settlement of $400,000.00 against Waldbaums occurred during the trial of this case.
Brisart v. Zamkov, (JD of New Haven)
Our office obtained a jury verdict in excess of $325,000.00 for this slip and fall incident.
Keegan v. New London County Mutual Insurance Company, 2005 WL 2854006 (2005) (JD of New Haven), Judge Frank S. Meadow, October 11, 2005
In this case the Court rendered judgment in favor of our client against the insurance company for windstorm damagers. Our client's pool and other property were damaged by a windstorm and the insurance company refused to pay our client for the claim. After trial, judgment was rendered against the insurance company and in favor of our client.