Addo, Kofi v. Lopez-Montesdeoca, Teofilo Et Al

On July 24, 2024, the Connecticut jury found the issues in favor of Plaintiff Kofi Addo. They awarded a total of $247,032.36 in damages. This auto negligence lawsuit arose from a motor vehicle accident where a vehicle was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.

Case Background

On December 23, 2022, Kofi Addo filed the present auto negligence lawsuit before the Connecticut State, Superior Court, Hartford Judicial Division. Judges Eric Smith, Stuart Rosen, and Susan Cobb presided over this case. [Case number: HHD-CV23-6163908-S]

Cause

On March 9, 2021, at approximately 12:52 a.m., Plaintiff Kofi Addo, was driving a vehicle in the right lane of I-95 North. This location was roughly 0.3 miles south of Exit 19 in Westport, Connecticut.

He then parked his vehicle on the right shoulder of I-95 North. He had activated his hazard lights and placed a caution sign behind his vehicle.

On the same date and time, Defendant Teofilo López-Montesdeoca was driving a tractor-trailer owned by Teofilo Transport LLC. He was operating the tractor-trailer in the right lane of I-95 North, directly behind the Plaintiff’s vehicle.

Teofilo López-Montesdeoca, due to his negligence, collided with the rear of the Plaintiff’s vehicle, causing an accident. This collision resulted in severe injuries, losses, and damages to the Plaintiff.

Injury

Due to the negligent actions of the Defendant, the Plaintiff suffered several injuries. These included post-traumatic headaches, facial contusions, and a laceration to the lower lip. The Plaintiff also suffered dental trauma, oral bleeding, cervical strain, and thoracic strain. Additionally, he endured bilateral trapezius strain, an abrasion on the left ankle, and bleeding from the anterior aspect of the left ankle.

As a result of these injuries, the Plaintiff felt sore and disabled. He suffered from pain, discomfort, and limited motion. The injuries restricted his activities and caused ongoing suffering. The Plaintiff faced permanent injuries and disabilities due to these effects.

Damages

Due to the Defendants’ careless conduct, the Plaintiff incurred ongoing medical expenses. Furthermore, the Plaintiff lost wages from his job. His earning capacity was affected by these injuries.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Kofi Addo
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Dressler Strickland
  • Defendant(s): Teofilo López-Montesdeoca | Teofilo Transport LLC
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Ryan Ryan Deluca

Claims

Plaintiff suffered injuries, losses, and damages due to the negligence and carelessness of Defendant Teofilo Lopez-Montesdeoca. On the day of the incident, Lopez-Montesdeoca followed the Plaintiff’s vehicle too closely, disregarding the speed, traffic, and road conditions, thus violating Section 14-240 of the General Statutes.

He also drove the tractor-trailer at an unsafe speed, breaching Section 14-218a, and failed to maintain proper control of his vehicle. It was alleged that Lopez-Montesdeoca’s inattention and failure to brake in time led to the collision. He made unsafe lane changes, which violated Section 14-242(a), and did not stay within his lane as required by Section 14-236.

Operating the vehicle while tired and exceeding service hours, he breached 49 C.F.R. Part 395. His impaired driving ability and distractions from unrelated activities further compromised safety, violating 49 C.F.R. Section 392.3 and Section 14-296aa(e).

Defense

The Defendants denied the allegation of negligence. By way of special defense, they accused the Plaintiff of comparative negligence. They alleged that the negligence of Plaintiff Kofi Addo played a significant role in causing the accident and his reported injuries. The comparative negligence exceeded any alleged negligence by the Defendants, Teofilo Lopez-Montesdeoca and Teofilo Transport, LLC, which they explicitly denied. According to Section 52-572h of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Plaintiff’s negligence barred him from recovering damages.

Jury Verdict

On July 24, 2024, the Connecticut jury found the issues in favor of the Plaintiff. They awarded a total of $247,032.36 in damages to the Plaintiff. The breakdown of the amount is as follows:

  • Economic damages: $72,032,36
    • Past medical expenses: $23,183.96
    • Future medical expenses: $26,610.00
    • Past lost wages: $22,238.40
  • Non-economic damages: $175,000.00

Court Documents:

Complaint

Answer

Verdict