Jersey City, New Jersey- Sakowski v. Coastal Oil New York, Inc.
On February 5, 1998 the personal injury claim of a Bayonne tank truck driver was settled with Coastal Oil for $800,000.00, inclusive of an annuity resulting in a total payment in excess of 1 million dollars. The suit against Coastal Oil stems from an April 13, 1994 incident at the company's Bayonne facility when the plaintiff was thrown to the ground from the top of a tanker truck while loading oil causing him to suffer injuries including a fractured pelvis, wrist, back injuries and severe depression. As a result of his injuries. Sakowski who had been a truck driver since he was 16 was left totally disabled. The plaintiff alleged that Coastal was aware and could have prevented the malfunction of the loading system that caused the incident. Coastal Oil denies any wrongdoing.
The settlement was negotiated at the time of trial in Hudson County by plaintiff's attorneys Robert E. Margulies and Amy R. Winsten of Jersey City's Margulies, Wind, Herrington & Knopf and Coastal's attorney, Martin Sullivan of Newark's Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker.