In Silvestre-Oseida v. Sesay, brother and sister Alba and Alexis Silvestre-Oseida suffered serious injuries when their car was rear-ended at a stoplight in Middlesex County. They were awarded a $1.175 million verdict on Aug. 15 in a three-day jury trial.

The police report showed that on March 13, 2017, the Silvestre-Oseida siblings were rear-ended while in Alba's red Honda Civic by defendant Unisa A. Sesay's vehicle, described as a grey Nissan Murano SUV. The siblings were on Route 18 south in East Brunswick when the Honda Civic stopped at a red light, with Alba's brother, Alexis, seated in the front passenger seat at the time of impact.

Alba was 25 at the time of the accident, and Alexis was 18, according to the police report. They lived in North Plainfield. 

Liability was stipulated, according to the plaintiffs' attorney, Jonathan P. Holtz of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan in Scotch Plains. Holtz represented both Silvestre-Oseida siblings.

Defendant Sesay was 47 at the time of the accident and resided in Somerset. He was represented by Benedict F. Valliere of Viscomi and Lyons in Morristown. When reached by phone, Valliere said he had no comment.

The plaintiffs each were diagnosed with herniations and bulges in their cervical and lumbar spines, and shoulder injuries, according to Holtz, who said they continue to receive chiropractic care. The trial came nearly two and a half years after the accident.

The case was tried on damages over three days, Aug. 13 through Aug. 15, before a jury. Alba was awarded $750,000; and Alexis, $425,000. Each award will include pre- and post-judgment interest as ordered by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Phillip Lewis Paley, who heard the case.

Liberty Mutual is the insurance carrier covering the entire $1.175 million settlement. Holtz said Alba is now 28; and Alexis, 21. Alba is employed by a holistic medicine facility, and Alexis works in pet care. Both brother and sister still live in North Plainfield.

"I believe the jury properly assessed the young lives of the plaintiffs and their expected life expectancy and set the verdict accordingly," Holtz said in a phone call. "They reached a fair and reasonable verdict."

— Suzette Parmley

$1M For Struck Pedestrian in Passaic

Pierro v. Kuney: A woman who was seriously injured in a pedestrian accident agreed to a $1 million settlement in her Passaic County suit on Sept. 3.

Plaintiff Jayne Pierro was walking her dog on Mountainview Boulevard in Wayne on Nov. 20, 2017, when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Deborah Kuney. Kuney was turning left from a Route 23 off-ramp onto Mountainview when she struck Pierro, said the plaintiff's lawyer, Charles Cerussi of Cerussi & Gunn in Shrewsbury.

Pierro's dog was killed in the accident. Pierro was dragged under the vehicle, and she sustained multiple spinal fractures, a fractured pelvis, and a right ear laceration. She was hospitalized for nearly three weeks after the accident, said Cerussi. Pierro has no memory of the accident, he added.

Kuney had a $250,000 auto policy and a $1 million umbrella policy, Cerussi said.

Kuney's lawyer, Charles Rabolli Jr. of Messineo Law in Ramsey, did not return a call about the case.

— Charles Toutant