Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis

Insurance Agency Negligence: Misled Worker Wins $55K Verdict

Personal Injury

Insurance Agency Negligence: Misled Worker Wins $55K Verdict

Kevin McSwiggan, owner and employee of Rockwell Construction Inc., suffered life-altering injuries in June 2017, including a broken pelvis and torn ligaments, while on the job. When he inquired about his insurance status, O’Brien Insurance Agency, LLC incorrectly informed him that he was not covered or was exempt from the company's workers' compensation policy. Relying on this professional advice, McSwiggan missed the legal deadline to file for benefits. It was only during a 2019 audit that he discovered he had been covered all along and had even been paying premiums for that specific protection. McSwiggan sued for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, arguing the agency failed to review the policy before giving him false information. On March 12, 2026, a Waterbury jury found in favor of McSwiggan, awarding him $55,008.89 in damages and moving the case forward for a determination of punitive damages.

Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions

Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions

What started as a commission dispute between a Connecticut public adjusting firm and its former adjuster ended with a Jury delivering a sweeping verdict in that adjuster's favor in January 2026. Juliana R. Castro claimed The Public's Adjuster, LLC owed her earned commissions and then spent months trying to destroy her career after letting her go. The firm, which had its own grievances — including allegations that Castro deleted its Facebook account and poached its clients — left the Courtroom with just $10. The verdict drew a sharp line between a company's right to protect its business and the obligations it owes the people who built it.

JDA Insurance wins Florida broker malpractice Defense case.

JDA Insurance wins Florida broker malpractice Defense case.

The Estate of Maria Ghillino, acting as an assignee for Rapid Junk Haulers, LLC, filed a professional liability lawsuit against JDA Insurance Group, LLC. The dispute followed a tragic 2021 accident where a junk-hauling truck struck and killed a pedestrian. Upon seeking coverage, the business discovered their policy contained an absolute auto exclusion. The Plaintiff alleged that JDA Insurance failed its duty to procure adequate coverage for a vehicle-dependent business. However, a Miami-Dade jury determined that while a relationship of trust existed, the agency did not breach its fiduciary duty or act with negligence, resulting in a total defense verdict.

Jury Rules for Yale New Haven in Eye Misdiagnosis Lawsuit

Medical Malpractice

Jury Rules for Yale New Haven in Eye Misdiagnosis Lawsuit

This medical malpractice lawsuit arose from a series of clinical encounters beginning in October 2019. Alexander R. Sommers, a resident of North Haven, sought treatment for sudden visual impairments in his right eye, describing a shadow like an "eclipse" blocking his vision. The plaintiff alleged that healthcare providers at Yale New Haven Health and the Yale Eye Center failed to timely and accurately diagnose a retinal detachment, initially misidentifying the issue as a neurological condition. This delay allegedly led to permanent and disabling damage, including a severe MRSA infection following eventual surgery. The defense maintained that the medical team acted appropriately based on the clinical information available at the time. Following a trial in November 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants, finding no liability for the hospital or the individual physicians.

$2.4M Verdict for Negligent Commercial Insurance Placement

Professional Liability

$2.4M Verdict for Negligent Commercial Insurance Placement

In the spring of 2022, a California corporation sought expert assistance from Cal-Kor Insurance Services to protect a commercial property at 2700 E. Slauson Avenue. Despite requests for full replacement cost coverage, the agency secured a policy covering less than half the building's value and included a "Protective Safeguard Endorsement" requiring a non-existent sprinkler system. When a New Year’s Day fire in 2023 destroyed the structure, the insurer threatened to deny the claim due to the missing sprinklers. On November 7, 2025, a Los Angeles jury found the agency negligent, determining that their errors were a substantial factor in the plaintiff's harm. The jury rejected claims of comparative negligence and awarded $2.4 million in damages plus prejudgment interest.