Rear-End Collision Verdict Favoring Eleanor Mikulski
Table of Contents
Case Background
A New Haven Superior Court jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff Eleanor Mikulski following a trial concerning injuries she sustained in a rear-end motor vehicle collision. The civil lawsuit named both the driver of the striking vehicle, Sunita Kelly, and her employer, Columbus Chemists, LLC. Mikulski filed the complaint in May 2023, asserting that the negligence of the driver, who was operating a company vehicle, directly caused her physical injuries and financial losses. The trial concluded in November 2025, with the jury finding both Defendants liable for the incident.
Cause
The incident occurred on April 12, 2022, when Eleanor Mikulski was driving southbound on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard in New Haven, Connecticut. Defendant Sunita Kelly, operating a 2020 Chevrolet motor vehicle and traveling in the same direction, struck the rear of Mikulski’s 2010 Honda. The complaint asserted that the collision resulted from Kelly’s carelessness and negligence.
Claims of Negligence
Mikulski’s legal team had asserted that Kelly caused the accident because she:
Failed to maintain a proper lookout: Kelly did not pay adequate attention to where she was driving.
Drove too fast: Kelly operated her vehicle at a speed greater than circumstances permitted.
Failed to warn: Kelly did not sound her horn or give any timely warning before the impact occurred.
Furthermore, Mikulski’s lawsuit had contended that Kelly was acting as an employee and agent of Columbus Chemists, LLC at the time of the crash. This employment connection meant that the company, as Kelly’s principal, was legally responsible for the driver’s negligent actions.
Injury
Following the rear-end impact, Mikulski suffered a range of physical injuries. The complaint described injuries to her lower back, specifically detailing disc disease and interfacet arthrosis at the L5-S1 level, alongside damage to the surrounding soft tissue structures. The injuries resulted in a loss of full range of motion, accompanied by severe pain and anguish. Mikulski’s doctors had determined that some of these injuries would likely be permanent. As a direct result, she had incurred substantial financial obligations for hospital and medical care and faced an inability to pursue her regular course of employment, leading to financial loss and an impaired future earning capacity.
Damages Sought
Mikulski had sought compensatory money damages against the Defendants for all her losses. This claim included compensation for her past and future medical expenses, recovery for the pain and anguish she endured, and payment for the income she lost and would continue to lose due to her inability to work. The total amount in demand had exceeded $2,500, a threshold that required the case to be heard in the Superior Court.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The lawsuit progressed rapidly in the New Haven Judicial District. The core proceedings centered on establishing that Kelly’s negligence had proximately caused Mikulski’s debilitating injuries.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Eleanor Mikulski
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): John F. Buckley, Jr.
Experts for Plaintiff(s): Michael Russo | Gregory A. Kuzmik
Defendant(s): Sunita Kelly & Columbus Chemists, LLC
Counsel for Defendant(s): John W. Mills
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
Mikulski’s counsel focused their arguments on the doctrine of negligence, emphasizing that rear-end collisions often signal a failure on the part of the driver in the rear. They had presented evidence that showed Sunita Kelly violated basic traffic safety rules, primarily by following too closely or failing to notice the Plaintiff's vehicle stopped or slowing ahead. They also showed that the resulting force from the collision had directly caused the documented spinal injuries, a consequence that entitled Mikulski to full compensation for her economic and non-economic losses.
Defense
The Defendants, represented by counsel for Kelly and Columbus Chemists, LLC, admitted that the collision had occurred and that Kelly was an employee. However, they had denied the specific claims of negligence, asserting that they lacked sufficient knowledge about the surrounding circumstances and the Plaintiff’s claims of fault. This denial forced Mikulski’s legal team to prove every element of her case to the jury. The defense likely argued that the driver was not solely at fault or that the severity of the Plaintiff’s injuries was exaggerated or pre-existing, attempting to minimize the damages that the Defendants might have to pay.
Jury Verdict
On November 7, 2025, the jury delivered its verdict to the Court, finding the Defendants liable for the collision. The jury determined that Eleanor Mikulski had proved her case against both Sunita Kelly and Columbus Chemists, LLC.
The jury awarded Mikulski damages solely for the economic losses she incurred, as presented in the detailed medical bills.
Past Medical Treatment and Related Expenses: The jury awarded $4,858.
The jury declined to award the Plaintiff compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or future physical and mental anguish. The total judgment entered against Sunita Kelly and Columbus Chemists, LLC was limited to the full amount of the Plaintiff’s past medical expenses. The verdict confirmed that the Defendants were negligent and responsible for the crash but placed a narrow value on the resulting harm to Eleanor Mikulski.