Odette Brown v. Gaynel Miller (2013)

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

This is a civil action wherein the plaintiff is seeking money damages for injuries and losses allegedly incurred in an automobile accident which occurred in New Haven on June 8, 2012.   The plaintiff alleges that she was the operator of her motor vehicle which had been traveling west on Bassett Street and which had reached the intersection with Dixwell Avenue.   She stopped in the intersection intending to make a left hand turn and to proceed south on Dixwell Avenue.   She waited until traffic had cleared and then made her left hand turn so as to allow traffic on Dixwell Avenue to proceed.   At this point her automobile was struck by the defendant's automobile which was proceeding east on Bassett Street and through the intersection at a high rate of speed in violation of the red light signal which controlled his route of travel.   The plaintiff claims that the accident and the injuries and losses suffered by the plaintiff were caused by the negligent operation of his automobile by the defendant.

The defendant has been defaulted for failure to appear.   He is not in the military service.   The court heard this case as a hearing in damages on October 9, 2013.

As a result of said collision caused by the negligence of the defendant the plaintiff suffered the following severe and painful personal injuries, some of which may be permanent:  a Grade 11 sub acute cervical sprain and strain, sub acute right hip contusion and a sub acute contusion of the abdomen.   As a result of said injuries she lost time from her employment and continues to have occasional pain in her neck and hip.   As a further result of the collision and the negligence of the defendant the plaintiff has been obliged to expend large sums of money for ambulance service, medical and hospital treatment, and x-rays, and may in the future be obliged to expend further sums for such purposes.   She has incurred to date ambulance, medical, hospital and x-ray expenses totaling $19,088.27 and has lost earnings totaling $766.26.

The plaintiff economic damages of $19,854.53 and non-economic damages of $25,000.00.   A judgment may enter in favor of the plaintiff as against the defendant in the amount of $44,854.53.

William L. Hadden, Jr.

Judge Trial Referee

Hadden, William L., J.T.R.