Local attorneys earn second record-setting win

Sparta —A Sussex County jury returned a county record $1.25 million verdict last week to a Montague woman who was injured in a car crash in 2003. Jill Yucius Retz, now 27, sustained injuries to her neck, back and right shoulder when her two-door Honda was struck by a Ford 250 pick-up, operated by Giovam Venturi of Lafayette, owner of Ravello’s Restaurant, in East Hanover. Retz was represented by Sparta attorneys Andrew Fraser and Lauren McFadden of Laddey, Clark and Ryan, LLP. This is the second million-dollar verdict for Fraser and McFadden in their last four trials, over the past two years. The unanimous jury verdict will result in pre-judgment interest of $80,513.70 for a total judgment for $1,330,513.70. Retz was pulling into her parents’ driveway on Statesville Quarry Road, in Lafayette, when Venturi’s pick-up struck the passenger side of Retz’s Honda. Both vehicles came to a rest in a ditch, with Retz’s car striking a tree, according to Fraser. Retz suffered a bulging disk in her neck, a torn rotator cuff in her right shoulder that required surgery and a herniated disk in her lower back that required a fusion surgery, noted Fraser. Fraser is a partner with Laddey, Clark and Ryan, while McFadden is an associate with the firm. Docket #: SSX-L-723-04 Judge: Honorable James A. Farber, J.S.C. Plaintiff: Jill Yucius Retz (age 27), of Montague Defendant: Giovam Venturi (age 60), of Lafayette Plaintiff’s Attorneys: Andrew Fraser, Esq. and Lauren McFadden, Esq., Laddey, Clark and Ryan, Sparta. Defendant’s Attorney: James Colavito, Esq., Lustbader and Lustbader, Livingston. Plaintiff’s Experts: James Dwyer, MD (Orthopedic Surgeon); Seth Ersner Hershfield, Ph.D. Defendant’s Experts: Melvin P. Vigman, MD (Neurologist); Francis N. DeLuca, MD (Orthopedic); Harvey M. Hammer, MD.