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VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS DECEMBER 21, 2020 ¦ 25

Billings said he had earlier allowed under state law for Dram
settled with Ramirez’s insurance Shop claims. He ended up settling
carrier for an undisclosed amount for $240,000 on Dec. 9. Billings
of money. said authorities never cited the
Next, the plaintiff sued the eat- Plaintiffs counsel Peter eatery. Police did cite Ramirez for

ery, citing the state’s Dram Shop Billings secured a $240,000 driving under the influence of al-
Act. settlement for his client, cohol.
But Billings had some road- who suffered a traumatic Billings said it’s not clear how
blocks to contend with at that stage. many drinks Ramirez had at the
First, the eatery claimed to not brain injury in a one-car bar, but said the three eyewit-
accident. The eatery where nesses confirmed he was served
have video of the incident. Second, while intoxicated. Two of three
the establishment denied the two the driver was drinking were friends of Ramirez and Gar-
men were even in the restaurant, while intoxicated settled cia, and one was an acquaintance,
and pointed to empty bottles of li-
the matter.

quor in the Ramirez car as proof Billings said.
the two drank elsewhere. Billings said his client had mul-
But, Billings said, he decided to tiple surgeries to his skull, back
do some digging. and arm.
“There was no physical evidence placing the driver Today, Garcia “is still very limited in his ability to
at the bar. There was no credit card and no receipts,” work, and his injuries still prevent him from taking
Billings said Monday. part in daily life activities,” Billing said.
With the help of a private investigator from Ad- Garcia, who had been working for a security
vanced Investigations, Billings and his team were company, was in an intensive care unit for a week.
able to locate three witnesses who saw the two men He was hospitalized for two weeks, and was in a
drinking at the bar. rehabilitation facility for about a month, Billings
“My private investigator helped track down those said.
individuals. I couldn’t have done that on my own. Representing the eatery and several of its manage-
That and the video of our client with his family talk- ment staff was Bridget Ciarlo of Nuzzo & Roberts
ing about how the injury impacted his life, made our LLC in Cheshire. Ciarlo didn’t respond to a request
case,” Billings said. for comment Monday.
Billings said his No. 1 tip for fellow attorneys: “Get In court pleadings, the defense left it to the plain-
the investigation started immediately. It’s essential tiffs to prove their case.
to preserving evidence to win these claims. People’s ¦

memory fades over time, and the evidence can dis- Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
appear.” analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
The defense’s first offer was for $180,000. Billings him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
said he held out for something closer to the $250,000 203-437-5950.

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