John Larosa suffered injuries to his right shoulder, right hip, left knee and lower back after a dump truck rear-ended this red 2005 Saturn he was driving in Middletown in 2016. Larosa recently settled his case for $400,000. John Larosa suffered injuries to his right shoulder, right hip, left knee and lower back after a dump truck rear-ended this red 2005 Saturn he was driving in Middletown in 2016. Larosa recently settled his case for $400,000. Courtesy photo

The owner of a Hartford law firm has secured a $400,000 settlement for a 53-year-old MIddletown resident who suffered right hip and right shoulder injuries after a dump truck rear-ended the vehicle he was driving.

Plaintiffs attorney Manny Cicchiello, owner and founder of Hartford-based Cicchiello & Cicchiello, said the biggest obstacle he faced was fighting off defense claims that his client, John Larosa, had preexisting injuries not related to the crash.

"The defense argued there were many preexisting injuries, and that he had prior knee and prior back pain, including back surgery," Cicchiello told the Connecticut Law Tribune. "It was a challenging case. We were able to get opinions from doctors to … connect the new injuries to the most recent accident and the exacerbation of old injuries to the accident."

According to Cicchiello and Larosa's September 2017 lawsuit, defendant Joseph Norris was driving a dump truck on behalf of Poolman Pools when he rear-ended Larosa's 2005 Saturn while approaching South Main Street's intersection with Pameacha Avenue in Middletown in 2016.

"My client testified that he looked at the rearview mirror and saw the dump truck coming and not slowing down," Cicchiello said. "Both of his hands were on the wheel, and he braced and said it was like a bomb exploding."

Larosa was wearing a seat belt, his attorney said.

Norris was given infractions for following too closely and speeding.

Cicchiello said Larosa had three surgeries: two to the left knee, where he had a torn meniscus, and one to the right shoulder, where he had a rotator cuff tear. In addition, Cicchiello said, Larosa also has a tear in his right hip for which he has been getting steroid injections for about a year.

Larosa incurred about $118,000 in medical bills, all of which insurance covered, Cicchiello said.

The two sides held a five-hour mediation before retired Judge Elaine Gordon on Nov. 15. The settlement for $400,000 was finalized on Nov. 18. The settlement money was paid via CNA Financial Insurance Co.

Larosa was a longtime mechanic, but could not continue that line of work due to his injuries, Cicchiello said. He is now employed as a machine operations supervisor.

Larosa, Cicchiello said, was pleased with the settlement.

"The injuries had such an impact on his life," Cicchiello said. "But he was very satisfied and grateful for what we did for him."

Representing defendant Norris was David Haught, a partner with Cooney, Scully & Dowling. Haught did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Representing defendant Poolman Pools were Haught and Suffield-based solo practitioner Robert J. Williams, who also did not respond to a request for comment.

In court papers, the defense denied every allegation of negligence and carelessness on the part of Norris.

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