Wanda Gomez, et al vs. Keith Claiborne, et al

Case Background

On January 31, 2023, Plaintiff Wanda Gomez and Izabella Sangster filed a truck accident lawsuit in the Connecticut Superior Court, Bridgeport Judicial District (Case number: FBT-CV23-6120792-S). Judge John Riley presided over this case.

Cause

On March 11, 2022, at around 8:09 a.m., Wanda Gomez was driving west in the left lane of Bedford Street in Stamford, Connecticut. Keith Claiborne was operating a box truck, which was stopped on the same street. Without warning, the truck reversed and collided with Wanda Gomez’s vehicle. Claiborne’s actions were negligent. He failed to maintain a proper lookout, was inattentive, and operated the truck in reverse when it was unsafe. At the time of the accident, Claiborne worked for City Line Distributors, Inc. and was driving a truck owned by Penske Truck Leasing Co. He was acting within the scope of his employment when the crash occurred.

Injuries

As a result of the truck accident, Wanda Gomez suffered severe injuries, including an L5-S1 disc herniation, back pain, lumbar radiculopathy, and mental anguish over the fear of potential lumbar spine surgery. Her daughter, Izabella Sangster, who was a passenger, also experienced fear, anxiety, and physical pain. Both Wanda and Izabella faced lasting effects that limited their ability to perform daily activities.

Damages

The plaintiffs incurred substantial medical expenses for diagnosis and treatment. Wanda Gomez’s medical costs included potential future spinal surgery. Izabella’s medical treatment costs also added to their financial burden. The total damages exceeded $15,000, excluding costs and interest. The plaintiffs also suffered non-economic damages, such as physical pain, mental suffering, and a reduced quality of life.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Wanda Gomez | Izabella Sangster
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Christopher J. Flood
    • Experts for Plaintiff(s):
  • Defendant(s): Keith Claiborne | City Line Distributors, Inc.
    • Counsel for Defendants: Andrew W. Skolnick
    • Experts for Defendant(s): 

Claims

The plaintiffs filed negligence claims and a vicarious liability lawsuit against Keith Claiborne, City Line Distributors, Inc., and Penske Truck Leasing Co. The defendants failed to uphold safety standards and traffic laws, which led to the truck accident and the injuries. The plaintiffs sought monetary compensation for their injuries, suffering, and financial losses.

Defense

The defense argued that if the plaintiffs sustained any injuries, those injuries were caused, in part, by Wanda Gomez’s own negligence. They claimed she failed to pay attention, did not maintain control of her vehicle, and did not take reasonable actions, such as braking or swerving, to avoid the truck accident. They also argued that she was speeding given the conditions. Penske Truck Leasing Co. contended that, as the lessor of the truck involved, they were immune from liability under federal and Connecticut state laws.

Jury Verdict

On January 17, 2025,  jury found in favor of Wanda Gomez. They held the defendants, Keith Claiborne and City Line Distributors, Inc., fully liable for the truck accident. The jury assigned 100% of the liability to Claiborne and none to the plaintiff. Wanda Gomez was awarded $738,146 in economic damages and $5,000,000 in noneconomic damages, bringing her total compensation to $5,738,146.

Court Documents:

Complaint

Answer

Jury Verdict