According to the Connecticut Law Tribune:
Quick summary: The Plaintiff was rear ended. The Defendant gave multiple and varied accounts of what happened presumably in an effort to blame the Plaintiff for the accident.
The injuries: Plaintiff suffered neck and shoulder pain, had two surgeries on his shoulder and went through a period pf physical therapy. Plaintiff’s doctor assigned a 27% permanent partial disability rating to the shoulder.
The defense: The Defendant contested liability for the accident. Further, the Defendant denied that the accident was the cause of the shoulder injury. Instead, the Defendant claimed that the Plaintiff’s shoulder injury was a pre-existing condition and that two surgeries resulted in an additional disability to the shoulder.
The parties: The Defendant gave varying accounts of the accident. The Plaintiff’s attorney felt that he was not credible. On the other hand, the Plaintiff with his injuries was struggling to take care of his disabled father. The jury may have concluded that the accident victim was a sympathetic Plaintiff.
The damages: The jury awarded $86,645 for medical bills and $725,000 for non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent disability).