Union County Jury Overturns Zero-Dollar Arbitration Assessment, Awards $161,000 to Injured Driver
ELIZABETH, NJ — A Union County jury recently delivered a major victory for a New Jersey driver, returning a $161,000 verdict and completely rejecting an earlier court-appointed arbitration assessment that had valued the personal injury case at zero dollars.
The lawsuit arose from a severe motor vehicle collision that left the plaintiff with permanent, life-altering injuries to the lumbar spine. Seeking justice, the plaintiff retained trial attorney Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. of Beninato & Matrafajlo, LLC, to anchor the complex legal battle in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Union County.
From its inception, the litigation faced substantial tactical hurdles. The defense focused its entire strategy on the plaintiff’s prior medical history, which included documented back complaints arising from two distinct, earlier accidents. Leveraging this timeline, the defense argued that the plaintiff’s current spinal issues were entirely pre-existing and completely unassociated with the subject crash. This narrative initially succeeded during mandatory, non-binding court arbitration, where the assigned arbitrator adopted the defense’s position wholesale and assigned a $0 valuation to the matter.
Refusing to accept the nominal outlook, Matrafajlo and his legal team aggressively pushed the case forward to a full jury trial before the Honorable Mark P. Ciarrocca, J.S.C..
At trial, the plaintiff’s legal strategy successfully dismantled the defense’s apportionment arguments. By systematically breaking down the client’s medical data and establishing a distinct, severe lifestyle demarcation before and after the subject collision, the trial team proved that the crash was the proximate cause of the permanent structural damage.
Following deliberations, the Union County jury completely vindicated the plaintiff, looking past the zero-dollar arbitration assessment to return a final compensatory award of $161,000.
“This verdict underscores why we fight so hard for our clients,” said Matrafajlo. “The arbitration process represents a single perspective, but a jury brings the collective conscience of the community. We are incredibly grateful that the jury looked closely at the real medical evidence, recognized the profound lifestyle impact this crash had on our client, and delivered the justice they truly deserved.”
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident, having experienced legal representation can make a difference. The attorneys at Beninato & Matrafajlo, LLC are prepared to evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. Contact the firm today to schedule a consultation and learn how the team can help protect your rights.
Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. is the Managing Member and Lead Partner at Beninato & Matrafajlo, Attorneys at Law, LLC, a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm with offices in Elizabeth and East Brunswick. With over two decades of experience representing clients in complex matters—including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases—he has recovered over $100 million on behalf of his clients and is known for securing significant results. He has also helped shape New Jersey personal injury law through notable Appellate Division decisions such as Hardison v. King and Frenklakh v. Lojek, with his litigation work featured in the New Jersey Law Journal, underscoring his authority in the field.
Mr. Matrafajlo was recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Stars honoree from 2012 to 2017 and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an honor reserved for attorneys who have achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Combining deep legal expertise with a client-focused approach, he provides strategic, results-driven representation while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
