Court Orders DiGiovanni To Pay Almost $745,000 In Civil Assault Lawsuit

New Haven Independent
A judge ordered Gino DiGiovanni and his company to pay $744,648 for assaulting employee Francis Brookins in 2020.

Summary

On June 24, Judge Barry Stevens ruled that Gino DiGiovanni Jr. and his construction company must pay Francis Brookins $744,648 in damages for an alleged assault that occurred on June 15, 2020, at DiGiovanni & Sons Construction in Derby. Brookins, a former employee, testified that DiGiovanni shoved him twice, causing nerve damage, torn rotator cuffs, and other injuries requiring surgery, leading to medical costs of $132,328 and lost wages of $112,320. The judge found the defendants’ conduct was intentional or substantially certain to cause injury, awarding $244,648 in economic damages and $500,000 in non‑economic damages, plus $659 in costs. DiGiovanni claimed he acted in self‑defense, said he never received notice of the lawsuit, and noted his prior guilty plea to a federal misdemeanor related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and subsequent pardon by President Trump. He may appeal the decision.

(Source:New Haven Independent)