Case Background
On July 15, 2019, Dennis Brayman operated his 2017 Ford Transit Connect van on Main Street in Coventry, Connecticut. Brayman, who owned CT Septic & Inspection, LLC, traveled northbound when traffic conditions forced him to stop. Philip Zetterstrom drove a 2012 GMC Sierra truck directly behind Brayman's vehicle. The truck belonged to Carl Zetterstrom, who permitted Philip to operate it.
Without warning, Philip Zetterstrom struck the rear of Brayman's van with enough force to trigger a chain-reaction collision involving two additional vehicles ahead. The impact threw Brayman around the interior of his van, causing extensive injuries.
Cause
This case arose from a rear-end motor vehicle collision that occurred on Main Street in Coventry, Connecticut. The Plaintiff brought claims of motor vehicle negligence against the driver Philip Zetterstrom and the vehicle owner Carl Zetterstrom. The complaint alleged multiple violations of Connecticut traffic laws, including following too closely under Section 14-240(a) and operating at an unreasonable speed under Section 14-218a of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Plaintiff also pursued an underinsured motorist claim against his own insurance carrier, The Main Street America Assurance Company, after determining that the tortfeasors' combined liability coverage of $350,000 fell short of compensating his extensive injuries and losses.
Injury
Brayman suffered a laceration to his scalp and a concussion. He experienced persistent headaches, amnesia, dizziness, confusion, nervousness, forgetfulness, and memory loss. The collision caused whiplash with cervical and lumbar strain. Brayman reported neck pain that radiated into his left shoulder and the back of his head, along with chronic back pain extending into his left hip and leg. He also suffered muscle spasms, chest pain from the seatbelt, left ear pain with pressure and hearing loss, bilateral shoulder and arm pain, elbow stiffness, knee pain, and foot problems. The accident left him with anxiety while driving or riding in vehicles. His treating physicians anticipated these injuries would remain permanent.
Damages Sought
The complaint demanded just, fair, and reasonable damages exceeding $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Brayman sought compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Dennis Brayman
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Michael L. Anderson
· Experts for Plaintiff: Stephanie Alessi-Larosa | Shutish Patel | Joseph M. Sohn
Defendants: Philip Zetterstrom, Carl Zetterstrom | The Main Street America Assurance Company
· Counsel for Defendants: F. Thomas Pachler
· Experts for Defendants: Roshni N. Patel
Claims
Brayman filed suit on July 13, 2021, in the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Tolland. The complaint contained two counts. The First Count targeted Philip Zetterstrom and Carl Zetterstrom for negligence. Brayman alleged that Philip followed too closely in violation of Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-240(a), operated at an unreasonable speed under Section 14-218a, failed to maintain a safe distance, did not keep his vehicle under proper control, neglected to watch for other vehicles, failed to brake in time, did not steer to avoid the collision, and drove inattentively.
The Second Count asserted an underinsured motorist claim against The Main Street America Assurance Company. Brayman carried automobile insurance with Main Street under Policy Number B1T4831L, which provided $1,000,000 in underinsured motorist coverage. Philip Zetterstrom held liability coverage of $250,000, while Carl Zetterstrom maintained coverage of $100,000 through Mid-Century Insurance Company. Brayman contended that his injuries exceeded the combined liability limits of the Zetterstrom Defendants, entitling him to underinsured motorist benefits under Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-336.
Defense
The Zetterstrom Defendants filed their answer on December 29, 2021. They admitted that Philip operated the GMC Sierra northbound on Main Street in Coventry on the date in question and that Carl owned the vehicle with Philip operating it under his permission. However, they denied the negligence allegations and claimed insufficient knowledge regarding Brayman's residence, injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. The defense left Brayman to prove these elements at trial.
Jury Verdict
On February 3, 2026, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Plaintiff, Dennis Brayman, against the Defendant Main Street America Assurance Company. The jury awarded $110,000 in past economic damages and $1,000,000 in future economic damages, bringing total economic damages to $1,110,000. For non-economic damages, the jury granted $600,000 for past suffering and $1,000,000 for future suffering, totaling $1,600,000 in non-economic damages. The complete award reached $2,710,000.
The jury also answered special interrogatories regarding future medical costs. The panel found that Brayman proved his need for future prescriptions and established the future cost of Ubrelvy at $1,779 per year. Additionally, the jury determined that Brayman demonstrated the future cost of Qulipta at $1,183 per month. These findings reflected the ongoing medication expenses Brayman would face as a result of his injuries from the 2019 collision.
The case progressed through the Connecticut Superior Court system for approximately four and a half years from the initial filing to the final verdict, reflecting the complexity of the claims and the substantial damages involved.
Court Documents
