CT Jury Awards $54k in Progressive Hit-and-Run Verdict
Table of Contents
Case Background
A Connecticut jury awarded a combined $53,786.33 to five Plaintiffs in an uninsured motorist case against Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. The verdict, recorded on October 29, 2025, and accepted by the Court on November 7, 2025, compensated a mother and four children for injuries they sustained in a violent hit-and-run collision caused by an unidentified driver in a stolen vehicle.
Cause
The incident occurred on May 28, 2020, at approximately 4:00 p.m. in Hartford, Connecticut. Roshona Chase, her two daughters Kenshawna Chase and Kenshawnie Chase, and two other minor children, Ah'Maya Edison-Henry and Jo'Zye Cortez, were passengers in a vehicle owned by Maria Boyce and driven by Jayvon Boyce, who was Roshona Chase's son. The vehicle traveled south on Wethersfield Avenue approaching the intersection with Elliott Street when a speeding car struck them suddenly from behind while attempting to pass.
The violent impact sent the Boyce vehicle spinning out of control, and it ultimately struck a third parked vehicle on the roadside. The driver who caused the crash fled the scene immediately. Police later found the vehicle abandoned one block away and determined through their investigation that it was stolen. Authorities never located or identified the person responsible for the collision.
Injury
The collision threw all five passengers violently around the vehicle's interior. Roshona Chase, the adult Plaintiff, suffered whiplash injuries to her neck, back injuries, injury to and worsening of her right shoulder condition, right knee injury, multiple bruises, decreased range of motion in her spine, pain throughout her body, and severe shock to her nervous system. Her doctors indicated that some or all of her injuries were permanent in nature.
Kenshawna Chase, who was nine years old at the time of the crash, sustained injuries to both elbows, her right foot, her right shoulder, multiple bruises, body pain, and nervous system shock. Her twin sister Kenshawnie Chase, also nine years old, suffered injuries to both elbows, a head injury and contusion, jaw injury, left leg injury, body pain, and nervous system shock.
Ah'Maya Edison-Henry, who was twelve years old at the time, sustained lower back injuries, headaches, body pain, and severe nervous system shock. Jo'Zye Cortez, the youngest victim at five years old, suffered head injuries, headaches, lower back injuries, right arm injury, body pain, and nervous system shock.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiffs filed their complaint on May 26, 2022, seeking monetary and compensatory damages in an amount greater than $15,000 exclusive of interest and costs. They pursued claims under Connecticut General Statute Section 38a-336, which requires insurance companies to provide uninsured motorist coverage. The vehicle they occupied carried a Progressive policy with uninsured motorist protection limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiffs: Roshona Chase | Kenshawna Chase | Kenshawnie Chase | Ah'Maya Edison-Henry | Jo'Zye Cortez
· Counsel for Plaintiffs: Caitlyn S. Malcynsky, Esq
Defendant: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
· Counsel for Defendant: Kileigh L. Nassau, Esq., Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Claims
The Plaintiffs brought five separate counts under Connecticut's uninsured motorist statute. They argued that the unidentified driver who caused the crash operated a stolen vehicle at dangerous and unreasonable speeds without regard for other motorists. The complaint alleged the tortfeasor was inattentive, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to grant right of way, followed too closely, operated the vehicle while distracted, failed to maintain proper control, and failed to use brakes properly.
Because the at-fault driver fled in a stolen car and was never identified, the Plaintiffs qualified to pursue uninsured motorist benefits under their policy with Progressive. Maria Boyce, who owned the vehicle the Plaintiffs occupied, purchased liability and uninsured motorist coverage from Progressive. The policy provided bodily injury protection of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per collision. The Plaintiffs, as passengers in the covered vehicle, were entitled to benefits under this policy.
Defense
Progressive filed its answer on August 29, 2022, denying most allegations and stating it lacked sufficient knowledge to form a belief about the Plaintiffs' claims. The insurance company admitted it was licensed to issue automobile policies in Connecticut and that it was required to include uninsured motorist coverage. However, Progressive denied that the Plaintiffs were entitled to benefits under the policy.
The defense raised five special defenses. Progressive argued that any recovery must be reduced by sums already paid to covered persons, amounts paid under medical expense coverage, and workers' compensation payments. The company also contended that recovery should be reduced by payments from any collateral source under Connecticut law. Progressive asserted that recovery was limited to policy limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident minus applicable credits and offsets. The defense further argued the Plaintiffs could not recover until they exhausted all liability policies of responsible parties, and raised a fraud or misrepresentation exclusion defense.
Jury Verdict
On October 29, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of all five Plaintiffs and against Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. The Court accepted and recorded the verdict at 12:07 p.m. on November 7, 2025.
The jury awarded Roshona Chase $5,455.10 in economic damages and $12,500 in noneconomic damages for a total of $17,955.10. Kenshawna Chase received $1,511.76 in economic damages and $12,500 in noneconomic damages, totaling $14,011.76. Kenshawnie Chase was awarded $3,044.76 in economic damages and $12,500 in noneconomic damages for a total of $15,544.76.
Ah'Maya Edison-Henry received $2,124.62 in economic damages and $12,500 in noneconomic damages, bringing her total to $14,624.52. Jo'Zye Cortez, the youngest Plaintiff, was awarded $1,131.29 in economic damages and $5,000 in noneconomic damages for a total of $6,131.29.
The combined verdict across all five Plaintiffs totaled $53,786.33 in economic damages ($13,277.53) and noneconomic damages ($54,000 across four Plaintiffs receiving $12,500 each and one receiving $5,000). The jury foreperson signed the verdict form on November 7, 2025. The case reached trial more than five years after the accident and approximately three and a half years after the complaint was filed.
Court Documents