After Matthew Falcone was severely injured by a Verizon van, his sister, Doreen Bergamo, sued the company on his behalf.
And when a jury later found the van driver 100% at fault and awarded Bergamo $41 million, the Kings County Supreme Court granted Verizon's motion for a new trial unless she accepted some $18 million.
While Verizon argued that the evidence didn't support the jury's determination that the company was totally responsible, the Appellate Division, Second Department, disagreed, noting that the verdict was based on "a fair interpretation of the evidence." Yet, the AD2 thought that a new trial would be warranted, unless Bergamo accepted $11.438 million.
That had to be unsettling.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Bergamo v. Verizon N.Y., Inc.