Drunk Driver Settles At $6.5 Million For Decedent's Mother

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In the case of Esposito v. Osinski, a lawsuit was filed by the mother of a motorcyclist killed by a drunk driver in a 2010 collision in Hartford.

James Glee, 29, a former college and Arena Football League player from East Haven, had been riding his motorcycle on Aug. 18, 2010, around 12:30 a.m. on the Exit 46 off-ramp of Interstate 84 eastbound in Hartford. He was struck by an oncoming vehicle operated by Shawn Osinski, of Essex, who was intoxicated and driving the wrong direction on the ramp. The impact caused Glee to be knocked off his motorcycle and thrown off the ramp. Glee then fell about 50 feet to a parking lot below. He died hours later after being transported to St. Francis Medical Center in Hartford. Glee’s mother, Mary Esposito, as executrix of Glee’s estate, sued both Osinski and the owner of the vehicle he had been driving, Howard Newton, in 2011. The lawsuit claimed Osinski was negligent and reckless for driving while intoxicated and driving the wrong way, past a sign which said, “Wrong way.” Osinski and Newton were socializing before the accident and had attended a rock concert. Osinski testified in a deposition that he and Newton consumed two rum and Cokes in the concert arena parking lot before entering the concert and then consumed two more cocktails while they were inside the venue, court documents show. The lawsuit alleged that Newton was negligent and reckless because he was aware Osinski was intoxicated and he handed Osinski the keys to his vehicle and directed him to drive. Newton got out of the vehicle while they were still in the concert arena’s parking lot. Osinski drove away alone. According to the complaint, the accident happened when Osinski returned to the concert venue to get Newton, who had instructed him to return to retrieve him. Osinski’s blood alcohol content was well in excess of the legal limit of 0.08, according to court documents. Osinski is serving a four-year sentence for second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle in connection with Glee’s death. There had been more than 50 depositions in the case, which ultimately settled July 10, 2014, right before it was scheduled to go to trial in Superior Court in New Haven.

Glee sustained multiple traumatic injuries to his entire body, including blunt chest trauma, liver and kidney laceration, and hemorrhagic shock. He died from the injuries. Four mediation sessions were held before the case settled, with a final agreement reached in the amount of $6.25 million for the mother.

At Maya Murphy, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to achieving the best results for individuals and their family members and loved ones whose daily lives have been disrupted by injury, whether caused by a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a defective product, or otherwise. Our attorneys are not afraid to aggressively pursue and litigate cases and have extensive experience litigating personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and always with regard to the unique circumstances of our client and the injury he or she has sustained. 

Please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq., at 203-221-3100, or at JMaya@mayalaw.com, to schedule a free consultation.

Source: Jeff Forte, Top Connecticut Verdicts & Settlements of 2015, CONN. LAW TRBN. at 8 (July 2016) discussing Mary Esposito v. Shawn Osinski, et al