Case Background
On the morning of March 14, 2019, Robert Allan Goulet visited a Cumberland Farms gas station located on South Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut. After buying a cup of coffee, he began walking toward the Dunkin’ Donuts next door. As he crossed the parking lot, he stopped and bent down to tie his shoe. At that moment, Albert Gagnon, the driver of a GMC Sierra truck, put his vehicle in reverse.
The truck backed up and ran over Goulet, crushing his body. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed multiple fractures and severe injuries. What began as an ordinary stop for coffee became a catastrophic accident that changed his life.
Goulet filed a lawsuit against Cumberland Farms, CFI Propco 2 LLC, and Guru Holdings LLC. He claimed that all three defendants shared responsibility for creating and maintaining a dangerous parking lot that put customers like him in harm’s way.
Cause
Goulet’s lawsuit alleged negligence on multiple fronts. He argued that Cumberland Farms, as the operator of the gas station, failed to design, maintain, and control the parking lot in a safe condition. He claimed the layout encouraged chaotic traffic patterns, with vehicles cutting across pedestrian areas without barriers, signage, or warnings.
He also asserted that CFI Propco 2 LLC, as an owner or lessor, shared in this negligence, along with Guru Holdings LLC, which operated the Dunkin’ Donuts next door. According to the complaint, Dunkin’ customers routinely parked in the gas station lot, adding to the confusion and hazard. Goulet’s legal team argued that all three defendants ignored these risks despite knowing about them.
The defense denied liability and filed special defenses. Cumberland Farms argued that Goulet himself was careless by kneeling down in an active parking area, making himself less visible to drivers. They also suggested that Albert Gagnon, the truck driver, bore sole responsibility for the accident.
Injury
The accident left Goulet with devastating injuries. He suffered a rib fracture and a compound, comminuted fracture of the proximal shaft of his right tibia, with displacement that required surgical intervention. He endured extensive soft tissue damage, nerve trauma, and a severe shock to his nervous system.
Recovery was long and painful. Goulet needed multiple surgeries, physical therapy, injections, and medication. He walked with a limp and lived with chronic pain. Doctors warned that many of his injuries were permanent and that his ability to work, exercise, and carry out daily activities would remain restricted. Beyond the physical toll, he also experienced significant anxiety, distress, and loss of confidence in his mobility.
Damages
Goulet’s complaint sought compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages included his medical bills, surgical costs, rehabilitation, medication, and anticipated future medical care. He also claimed lost wages for the period he was unable to work and argued that his long-term earning capacity was impaired.
Noneconomic damages sought to compensate for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Goulet emphasized that he could no longer live the active life he once had, and that he faced ongoing pain and limitations that deeply affected his independence and quality of life.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Robert Allan Goulet
Counsel for Plaintiff: Christopher A. Sica
Experts for Plaintiff: Kevin Johnson | Greg Richardson | Gerald Baker | Paul J. Beauvais
Defendants: Cumberland Farms, Inc. | CFI Propco 2 LLC | Guru Holdings LLC
Counsel for Defendant: Kirby G. Huget
Experts for Defendant: Robert D. Vanasse
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Plaintiff’s Claims
Christopher A. Sica of Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner, LLP, represented Goulet. He told jurors that the accident was not an unpredictable mishap but the result of a dangerously designed and poorly managed parking lot. He highlighted the lack of traffic controls, pedestrian safety measures, and signage. He argued that both Cumberland Farms and its co-defendants had long known about the risks of mixing heavy traffic with pedestrian areas yet chose not to correct them.
Sica walked jurors through medical records, photographs, and testimony from doctors who treated Goulet. He reminded them that the accident robbed his client of his mobility, his ability to work, and much of his independence.
Defense Arguments
Cumberland Farms, represented by attorneys from the Law Offices of David J. Mathis, countered that Goulet bore responsibility for his own injuries. They pointed out that he knelt down in an active parking lot, placing himself in a position where drivers could not see him. They also argued that Albert Gagnon, the truck’s driver, was the one whose actions directly caused the accident, not the gas station or Dunkin’ Donuts operators.
The defense framed the case as an unfortunate accident caused by individual actions, not by any systemic problem with the property.
Jury Verdict
On October 18, 2024, the jury delivered its verdict. After weighing the evidence, the panel found in favor of Cumberland Farms, Inc. and against Robert Allan Goulet. The jury concluded that the company was not negligent and did not bear legal responsibility for Goulet’s injuries.
This defense verdict meant that Goulet received no compensation from Cumberland Farms. For the plaintiff, the outcome marked the end of a lengthy legal battle without recovery. For Cumberland Farms and the co-defendants, it represented vindication against claims that their property management had created unsafe conditions.
