Transactions
Representative Personal Injury Matters: Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Wrongful Death - $800,000.00 settlement - A pedestrian was struck by two vehicles heading in opposite directions while crossing the street at night. State police report cited pedestrian as cause of the accident. After written and deposition discovery, case settled for a total of $800,000.00.; Rear End Accident - $500,000.00 arbitration award - Plaintiff was rear-ended while stopped for traffic on the highway. He suffered an annular tear at L5-S1, and underwent anterior-posterior spinal fusion surgery, during which his L4-L5 and L5-S1 were fused. Case was arbitrated and plaintiff was awarded $500,000.00.; Facial Injuries - $325,000.00 settlement - Plaintiff was struck in the face with a piece of playground equipment, and suffered a fractured alveolar bone, traumatic avulsion of four upper central incisors, traumatic intrusion of one upper central incisor, and multiple loose teeth, requiring the extraction, replanting, and repositioning of the upper central incisors, subsequent root canals, and the permanent replacement of teeth. Case settled at a mediation for $325,000.00.; Facial Injuries - $175,000.00 settlement - Plaintiff struck his face during a boating accident, and suffered a Le Fort I fracture, requiring open reduction and internal fixation, an alveolar fracture of the left anterior mandible, requiring closed reduction and fixation, and a nasal fracture, requiring closed reduction; and traumatic avulsion of four teeth, requiring subsequent root canals, and the permanent replacement of teeth. Case settled at mediation for $175,000.00.; Settled Consumer Class Action Cases: Suburban Services, Inc. v. SNET Information Services, Inc. - $2,747,955 settlement - Peter M. Van Dyke filed a class action on behalf of Plaintiff, Suburban Services, Inc., and more than 16,000 class members, against Defendants, SBC Communications, Inc., Southern New England Telephone Company, SNET Information Services, Inc., SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P., and SBC SNET Yellow Pages, claiming that the terms and conditions of the class members' advertising contracts did not allow for assessment of a $25.00 flat fee for late payments, plus 1% interest per month thereon, and that the acts of Defendants constituted a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, General Statutes § 42-110a, et seq., and a breach of contract.; Plaintiff and the class members claimed money damages, punitive damages pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, attorney's fees pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, interest, costs of suit, and costs of all notices and things that the Court may require for the class members.; The parties entered into a settlement agreement with an approximate economic value of $2,747,955, exclusive of attorneys' fees and costs of administration, for the class members. The settlement agreement provided for direct cash payments, account credits and credits for future advertising to class members.; Todd Lessard v. Rent-A-Center East, Inc./Blass v. Rent-Way, Inc. - $7,391,527 settlement - Peter M. Van Dyke filed a class action on behalf of Plaintiff, Todd Lessard, and more than 60,000 class members, contending that Defendant, Rent-A-Center East, Inc., violated the Connecticut Consumer Rent-To-Own Agreement Act, C.G.S. § 42-240 et. seq. (the "Act"), and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, C.G.S. § 42-110a et seq., by utilizing rental-purchase agreements that did not comply with the Act's requirements. Plaintiff further contended that Defendant violated the Act by charging class members for insurance other than property insurance.; Plaintiff and the class members claimed money damages, punitive damages pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, attorney's fees pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, interest, costs of suit, and costs of all notices and things that the Court may require for the class members.; The parties entered into a settlement agreement with an economic value of approximately $7,391,527 for the class members, exclusive of administration expenses, attorneys' fees and costs, and an incentive payment. The settlement agreement provided for cash payments and free rent vouchers.; Prepayment Penalty Class Action - $855,000 settlement - Peter M. Van Dyke filed a class action on behalf of a Plaintiff, and more than 400 class members, contending that a Defendant breached its contracts, was unjustly enriched, and violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, C.G.S. §§ 42-110a et seq., by wrongfully overcharging, collecting and retaining prepayment penalty fees from Plaintiff and the class members.; Plaintiff and the class members claimed money damages, punitive damages pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, attorney's fees pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, interest, costs of suit, and costs of all notices and things that the Court may require for the class members.; The parties entered into a settlement agreement with an economic value of approximately $855,000 for the class members, exclusive of administration expenses, attorneys' fees and costs, and an incentive payment. The settlement agreement provided for cash payments.; Jennifer Blass, et al v. Amazon.com, Inc., et al - $82,426.98 settlement - Peter M. Van Dyke filed a class action on behalf of three Plaintiffs, and more than 11,000 class members, contending that Defendants, Toysrus.com, Inc., Toysrus.com, LLC, and Babiesrus.com, LLC, Amazon.com, Inc. and Amazon.com, LLC violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, C.G.S. §§ 42-110a et seq. by wrongfully overcharging, collecting and retaining sales tax from Plaintiff and the class members.; Plaintiff and the class members claimed money damages, punitive damages pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, attorney's fees pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g, interest, costs of suit, and costs of all notices and things that the Court may require for the class members.; The parties entered into a settlement agreement with an economic value of approximately $82,426.98 for the class members, exclusive of administration expenses, attorneys' fees and costs, and an incentive payment. The settlement agreement provided for cash payments.; Pamela Blass, et al v. Mother's Work, Inc. - $318,964.07 settlement - Peter M. Van Dyke filed a class action on behalf of two Plaintiffs, and more than 40,000 class members, contending that Defendant, Defendant, Mothers Work, Inc., violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, C.G.S. §§ 42-110a et seq. and Massachusetts General Laws c. 93A by wrongfully overcharging, collecting and retaining sales tax from Plaintiff and the class members.; Plaintiff and the class members claimed money damages, punitive damages pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g and M.G.L. c. 93A, attorney's fees pursuant to General Statutes § 42-110g and M.G.L. c. 93A, interest, costs of suit, and costs of all notices and things that the Court may require for the class members.; The parties entered into a settlement agreement with an economic value of approximately $318,964.07 for the class members, exclusive of administration expenses, attorneys' fees and costs, and an incentive payment. The settlement agreement provided for cash payments and gift certificates.
