Jury deliberations begin in severed leg case

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut jury has begun deliberations in the case of a Bridgeport restaurant owner who lost his right leg when he was struck by a state police cruiser.

A lawyer for Melvin Gordils asked the Bridgeport Superior Court jury to issue a $35 million verdict against the state during closing arguments Thursday. The Connecticut Post reports such a verdict would be the costliest one ever in a Connecticut accident case.

Gordils ran out of gas on the Route 25/8 connector in May 2010 and was crossing the highway when he was struck by Trooper Darren Pavlik's cruiser. The impact severed Gordils' leg and sent it flying 170 feet away.

The state's lawyer argued Gordils is responsible because he failed to look for traffic while crossing the highway.

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Information from: Connecticut Post