Arzadi and Associates | Testimonials

$790,000 FOR AUTO ACCIDENT: Gonzalez v. Repace

A former Perth Amboy police officer who alleged that he became permanently disabled in an auto accident settled for $790,000 on April 24, the day of trial.

"On Jan. 22, 1998, Ramito Gonzalez was responding to a call with lights flashing and siren on when the defendant, Robert Repace, turned left at a stop sign on Amboy Avenue," says Gonzalez's attorney, Karim Arzadi, who heads a firm in Perth Amboy.

Repace, of Perth Amboy, struck the driver's side of Gonzalez's squad car. Repace, an employee of Edison car dealership Reydel Volkswagen, was on duty at the time.

"The impact of the collision slammed Gonzalez's knee into the dashboard, leaving him permanently disabled, despite two arthroscopic surgeries to correct the injury," Arzadi says.

According to Arzadi, the plaintiff's orthopedic surgeon, Richard Boiardo of West Orange, has recommended knee replacement surgery and advised that several such operations, whose benefit lasts only about 10 years, will be necessary.

"Gonzalez also underwent a laminectomy in November 1999 to repair a herniated disc at L5-S1," says Arzadi.

"Gonzalez, now 40, of Perth Amboy, made several failed attempts to return to work, is out on temporary disability and is receiving worker's compensation while he applies for his police pension and undergoes rehabilitative therapy," Arzadi says.

Gonzalez sued Repace and his employer in Middlesex County Superior Court. The case was assigned to Judge Alan Rockoff, who helped arrange the settlement.

Alexander De Sevo, an associate with Chasan Leyner Bariso & Lamparello in Secaucus, represented Repace and Reydel. Reydel's insurer was Preferred Dealer Protection of Dallas, Texas.

The defense had disputed that Gonzalez was using his lights and siren at the time of the accident.

The action also included a claim against Gonzalez's automobile insurer, Colonial Penn Insurance Co. of Valley Forge, Pa., for personal injury protection benefits. Arzadi says that claim was settled earlier this year for $4,000.00

~ By Mary P. Gallagher

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