Estella Aliotta, Anthony Aliotta, and Paula Raspantini v. John A. Galinus and Eileen Sisco

Estella Aliotta, Anthony Aliotta, and Paula Raspantini v. John A. Galinus and Eileen Sisco

DISC HERNIATIONS, ACROMIOCLAVICULAR JOINT ARTHROPATHY

Passaic County, NJ

The parties agreed to a $685,000 pre-trial settlement.

Aliotta received $500,000, and Raspantini received $185,000 from within a primary policy with Plymouth Rock Group of Cos. and an excess policy with American Automobile Association.

$685,000

On June 11, 2015, plaintiff Estella Aliotta, 47, a legal secretary, was driving a Volkswagen Jetta north on Ringwood Avenue, in Pompton Lakes. The front-seat passenger was plaintiff Paula Raspantini, 50, a substance-abuse counselor.

While they were heading north, a Honda compact sport utility vehicle was approaching from the south. The driver of the Honda, John Galinus, attempted a left turn into a parking lot and collided head-on with the Volkswagen. Aliotta claimed injuries to her neck, left shoulder, and left arm. Raspantini claimed injuries to her head, neck, spine, and left shoulder.

Aliotta and Raspantini sued Galinus, alleging he had been negligent. The Honda’s owner, Eileen Sisco, was also named as a defendant under theory of vicarious liability.

The plaintiffs maintained that Galinus had been traveling too quickly, had been inattentive, and miscalculated the distance between the vehicles prior to initiating the left turn.

Galinus and Sisco did not actively dispute liability.