Crash Lawsuit Ends in Victory for City of New Haven
Case Background
On the morning of August 24, 2022, Jessenia Marie Santiago was driving eastbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (also known as South Frontage Road) in New Haven, Connecticut. As she approached the intersection with Orange Street, her vehicle collided with a municipal vehicle driven by William E. Johnston III, an employee of the City of New Haven, who had also been travelling eastbound but in a different lane. According to Santiago, Johnston suddenly veered into her lane without warning, causing the crash.
She filed a civil lawsuit against both Johnston and the City of New Haven, alleging negligence and seeking compensation for injuries, lost income, and medical expenses.
Cause of Action
Santiago’s complaint asserted two counts of negligence. First, she accused Johnston personally of driving carelessly, citing various missteps, including failing to stay in his lane, speeding, and failing to brake or steer to avoid the crash. In the second count, she claimed the City of New Haven bore legal responsibility for Johnston’s actions, since he had been operating the city-owned vehicle within the scope of his employment at the time.
Injuries suffered
Santiago reported several physical and emotional injuries from the crash. These included persistent headaches, neck and back pain, disc herniation at the C5-C6 level, left arm pain, and sprains across her lower back and hips. She also experienced anxiety as a result of the crash. Her injuries reportedly limited her mobility and disrupted her normal routine and activities.
Damages
She sought compensation for her physical pain and mental suffering, as well as the cost of medical treatment, including diagnostic imaging, medications, therapy, and follow-up care. Santiago also claimed a loss of income and future earning capacity due to her inability to work, along with reduced enjoyment of life. Her demand for damages exceeded $15,000, exclusive of interest and court costs.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Santiago argued that Johnston had operated the vehicle negligently and failed to take basic precautions. Her legal team laid out violations of several motor vehicle laws, including unsafe lane changes, excessive speed, and failure to maintain control. They emphasised that Johnston’s abrupt manoeuvre had caused the crash and led directly to her injuries.
The City of New Haven and Johnston denied liability. They admitted that the crash had occurred and that Johnston had been acting within the scope of his employment. But they rejected the accusation that he had acted negligently. They also filed special defenses, placing blame on Santiago herself.
The defense argued that Santiago had failed to maintain a proper lookout, was speeding, and had not reacted appropriately to avoid the collision. They further claimed she had not met legal driving requirements, including valid registration, insurance, and licensed supervision, alleging that she had been operating an unregistered, uninsured vehicle without a proper license at the time.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Jessenia Marie Santiago
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Garrett M. Moore
Defendants: William E. Johnston III | The City of New Haven
· Counsel for Defendants: Earle Giovanniello
Key Arguments by Counsel
Plaintiff’s counsel argued that the crash could have been prevented had Johnston exercised ordinary care while driving the city-owned vehicle. They focused on his alleged failure to maintain control and follow traffic laws, claiming these errors directly led to the collision and Santiago’s injuries.
The defense countered that Santiago was not a cautious driver herself and had contributed to or entirely caused the crash. They highlighted alleged traffic violations and questioned her vehicle’s legal status, arguing that her own negligence barred or reduced any recovery.
Claims Asserted
Jessenia Marie Santiago’s lawsuit focused on two counts of negligence. In the first count, she alleged that William E. Johnston III, while driving a city-owned vehicle, had carelessly veered into her lane and caused the collision. She claimed he failed to keep a proper lookout, didn’t maintain control of the vehicle, and violated several Connecticut traffic laws—including failing to stay in his lane, driving at an unsafe speed, and not taking steps to avoid a crash. In the second count, she claimed the City of New Haven was legally responsible for Johnston’s actions, since he had been operating the vehicle in the course of his employment. She sought damages for physical injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and reduced quality of life.
Defense Arguments
In response, the Defendants denied all allegations of negligence and raised a special defense arguing that Santiago herself caused or contributed to the crash. They claimed she failed to maintain a proper lookout, drove at an unreasonable speed, and did not control her vehicle appropriately under the circumstances. The defense also alleged that Santiago had been operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and lacked the proper licensure at the time of the crash. These alleged violations of Connecticut law formed the foundation of their argument that she was at least partly responsible for the accident and, as a result, not entitled to any recovery.
Jury Verdict
On June 4, 2028, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favour of the Defendants, William E. Johnston III and the City of New Haven. The jury found that the evidence did not support Santiago’s claims of negligence and awarded no damages.
The decision brought an end to the civil case, clearing both Johnston and the city of any legal responsibility for the crash.