Cumberland Farms Wins Defense in Parking Lot Injury Case
Table of Contents
Case Background
On the morning of March 14, 2019, Robert Allan Goulet visited a Cumberland Farms gas station located on South Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut. After buying a cup of coffee, he began walking toward the Dunkin’ Donuts next door. As he crossed the parking lot, he stopped and bent down to tie his shoe. At that moment, Albert Gagnon, the driver of a GMC Sierra truck, put his vehicle in reverse.
The truck backed up and ran over Goulet, crushing his body. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed multiple fractures and severe injuries. What began as an ordinary stop for coffee became a catastrophic accident that changed his life.
Goulet filed a lawsuit against Cumberland Farms, CFI Propco 2 LLC, and Guru Holdings LLC. He claimed that all three defendants shared responsibility for creating and maintaining a dangerous parking lot that put customers like him in harm’s way.
Cause
Goulet’s lawsuit alleged negligence on multiple fronts. He argued that Cumberland Farms, as the operator of the gas station, failed to design, maintain, and control the parking lot in a safe condition. He claimed the layout encouraged chaotic traffic patterns, with vehicles cutting across pedestrian areas without barriers, signage, or warnings.
He also asserted that CFI Propco 2 LLC, as an owner or lessor, shared in this negligence, along with Guru Holdings LLC, which operated the Dunkin’ Donuts next door. According to the complaint, Dunkin’ customers routinely parked in the gas station lot, adding to the confusion and hazard. Goulet’s legal team argued that all three defendants ignored these risks despite knowing about them.
The defense denied liability and filed special defense
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