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6 ¦ FEBRUARY 24, 2020 NEWS

¦ From CELLPHONE on PAGE 1 Sprague suffered multiple
“We did an entire forensic brain hemorrhages requiring
review of her cellphone,” Har- several surgeries to her skull. She
rington said. “The expert was able was hospitalized for more than
to examine that cellphone and, Plaintiff Jillian Sprague, who a month, and was on a respira-
using the cellphone towers, was suffered a traumatic brain tor and feeding tube for several

able to show that the phone was injury, didn’t remember days, her attorney said. She also

where she said it was—at the time much about what had suffered lasting injuries, includ-

she said it was.” happened. But her attorney ing hearing loss and neurological
The takeaway: “You can never said she did remember she damage.
just rely on eyewitness testimony, had left her cellphone in her “Her recovery was pretty pro-
because it can be wrong,” Har- found,” Harrington said. “She
rington said. “You must do car to charge while she’d is now back at work in an auto
diligent work and determine what biked in New Britain. dealership, and living indepen-

actually transpired.” dently.”
What happened, according to WSM was fined a minimal
Harrington and an amended June amount for digging up the road
2019 lawsuit, was this: Defendant without a city permit, Harrington
WSM Construction Inc., a private contractor, was said. It will pay the $900,000 settlement via its insur-
installing and replacing gas pipes in the New Britain ance carrier, The Travelers Companies Inc., within
neighborhood. As part of the job, Harrington said, 30 days.
the company had dug portions of the road, leaving Co-defendant Connecticut Natural Gas Corp. will
an uneven patch where Sprague would later crash. pay nothing toward the settlement. Harrington said
“She fell violently on her head, and her doctors the suit listed it as a defendant because WSM was
were telling her parents they did not know if she’d working on the gas company’s behalf.
make it,” Harrington said. Retired Judge Antonio Robaina mediated the
Defense counsel Thomas Noniewicz, of Hartford- case, which settled Tuesday.
based Law Offices of Cynthia M. Garraty, declined ¦

to comment for this report. But court pleadings Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
pinned the blame on Sprague, arguing that she’d analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
been negligent, and had “operated her bicycle in an him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
inattentive manner.” 203-437-5950.

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