Norwalk attorney Donald Papcsy and his firm recently settled three cases totaling about $2 million, and there was no question where a portion of that money was going.

Papcsy, a senior partner at Papcsy Janosov Roche Trial Lawyers, said he was moved by people from all walks of life banding together in this country in recent months to support the fight for social equality. That, he said, was the impetus for his firm donating more than $20,000 in total from the net proceeds of those three settlements to two Connecticut nonprofits.

"The cause is the fight for social equality," Papcsy said. "I strongly encourage other attorneys to do the same. Our hope is that we can start a trend, so when other firms get a great result in a case they will also donate a portion of their fees to organizations that fight for equality for all. The legal community needs to be more visible in the fight for social justice."

The two nonprofits that will benefit from the firm's donations are The Children's Law Center of Connecticut and the Choose Love Movement, which a parent of a Sandy Hook Elementary School student started after her child was killed in the 2012 school shooting.

Justine Rakich-Kelly, an attorney and director of The Children's Law Center, said Wednesday the donation "couldn't have come at a better time. So much of our funding has dried up due to COVID-19."

The nonprofit, she said, represents low-income children in contested custody cases where parties can't afford an attorney for their child.

The three settlements were for $1.25 million for a pedestrian injured when he was struck by a drunken driver; $390,000 for an individual injured in a head-on collision; and $340,000 for a man injured in a stairway collapse. All three cases, Papcsy said, were settled before filing a lawsuit and within the last 45 days.

In the case that settled for $1.25 million, a drunken driver broke Brandon Gersch's lower leg bones and upper arm bones, Papcsy said. The impact, Papcsy said, caused Gersch to strike the car's windshield, fly into the air and land on a concrete surface. Gersch spent a month in an in-house rehabilitation.

The $390,000 settlement was on behalf of Elisa Palladino, who was injured when another motorist entered her lane.

The $340,000 settlement was for John Everson who, during the course of his work, fell through a wooden step that gave way under him. Everson, partner David Roche said, was working on a homeowner's heating system when the incident occurred. Everson suffered serious shoulder injuries which seriously affected his ability to enjoy his passion for weightlifting and physical fitness, Roche said.

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