Jury Awards $1.7M to Bottass in Insurance Dispute

Case Background

On August 3, 2020, a quiet afternoon in Litchfield turned into a life-changing day for Danielle Bottass. She drove her 2019 Toyota Camry north on Route 254, approaching the intersection with Route 118. At the same moment, Nicholas Nozzolillo drove a Ford F-150 pickup east on Route 118.

Bottass stopped her car at the intersection, checked both ways, and then attempted to proceed behind a vehicle preparing to turn left. In those few seconds, Nozzolillo came from her left at high speed and slammed into her Camry. The force of the crash left Bottass with catastrophic injuries.

What made the ordeal worse was that Nozzolillo carried no insurance. Because of that, Bottass turned to her parents’ policy with United Ohio Insurance Company. The policy included uninsured motorist coverage, designed for exactly these situations. When she filed her claim, the company refused payment. Bottass filed suit, claiming her insurer failed to honor its obligations under the policy.

The case moved slowly through pleadings, special defenses, and discovery. In December 2024, after more than four years, a jury in Waterbury delivered its verdict.

Cause

Bottass based her lawsuit on negligence. She argued that Nozzolillo drove recklessly, speeding through an intersection, ignoring traffic conditions, and failing to brake or swerve in time. Since he was uninsured, her claim targeted United Ohio Insurance Company for uninsured motorist benefits.

The insurer denied responsibility, arguing both that Nozzolillo was not entirely at fault and that Bottass herself contributed to the crash.

Injury