Connecticut Civil Rights Legal Questions

You will want to get all that information about your son to the prosecutors. The first step is to do everything possible to have the charges dismissed. Only then can you proceed with a civil rights case. Definitely retaining a lawyer will help you toward there goal.  Michelle Holmes ... Read More

 By virtue of you even calling it "common areas" I think you know you have little to no expecatation of privacy which is neccesssaary if you want to have a case. However, Connecticut is a one party recording state so if you were to have an expectation, then the landlord would have to be part of the conversation.  That being said, without more information, a determination is impossible.... Read More

I am so sorry this is happening to you and I am interested in knowing more and helping you.  Please feel free to contact me to discuss a case further.  My offices are in Stratford, Connecticut.  You can reach us at 203.870.6700.  We look forward to your call.  Early this afternoon would be best. Thank you. ... Read More

First, do not violate the restraining order.  Follow  the law and stay away from this person in every way including electronically. Second, you can always get a matching restraining order against them.  Finally,  there is a big difference between a restraining order and a temporary restraining order.  I imagine that you got a temporary restraining order. You should read up on it. Good luck.... Read More

Yes you can. Your personal freedom include the ability to travel where you choose without being restrained by someone else. When someone else restrains you or prevents you from travelling, this is punishable as a crime, known as false imprisonment. The crime of false imprisonment, sometimes called criminal restraint or criminal confinement, occurs when one person unlawfully restrains someone else without the victim's consent.False imprisonment can also be punished with a fine in addition to jail or prison time. Misdemeanor fines usually do not exceed about $1,000, while felony fines can be significant, exceeding $10,000 or more. If you are the victim of such a crime you should call the police at the time it is happening. ... Read More

You might have a hostile work environment employment matter.  Unless you were injured, it does not sound like you have a personal injury matter.  Please feel free to contact us for more information.  My partner, William Whewell, handles employment matters frequently and may be able to offer more advice.... Read More

In 1964, Congress passed Public Law 88-352, which included the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which focused on discrimination in public service or hiring. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits public accommodations from refusing service to customers because of skin color, race, religion, sex, nationality, or any physical conditions a customer can’t prevent.  The right to refuse service, then, means that public accommodations, such as restaurants, theaters, banks, gyms, and stores, can lawfully deny service to a customer if they feel that their business might suffer from engaging in such a transaction—as long as they don’t base that decision on the categories above.  Therefore, unless you were banned because of being a member of a protected class,  you do not have much recourse.... Read More

Perhaps you are paying 668 a month for rent because you were very lucky? Average section 8 housing pricing for a 1 bed 1 bath is approaching 1000/mo. So you are doing very well. If you are trying to find clothing for your kids I reccomend going on freecycle ( a listserve through Yahoo where people give things away for free.  You can probably get soap at the dollar tree. As to items disappearing in your home, I suggest better organization or monitoring who comes in and out of your home.  If you are section 8, it is unlikely that targeted for burglary. More likely, your kids, your friends, or your kids friends are taking things.  Have you tried looking for work?... Read More

Did you have an employee contract?  More than likely you are an employee at will and they have the right to fire and hire at will. I don't know that you have a case based on the few details here but I'm leaning toward thinking that you may not. I understand the stresses of this position.  I used to teach as well. However, I don't see any details here that show how the administration mistreated you.  I would be interested in learning more.  I wish you the best. ... Read More

Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), private colleges have a general duty to provide reasonable accommodations to employees and students with a qualifying disability. The ADA and Section 504 generally require a student to self-identify his or her disability, request accommodations, and then participate in an interactive process with the institution to determine whether and to what extent accommodations will be provided. Have you done this? Did you go through the appropriate chanells? What is the nature of your disability? You should be aware of course that federal courts have consistently held that neither the ADA, nor Section 504, requires an institution to make retroactive changes to a student’s record. Rather, courts hold that a school’s obligation to provide reasonable accommodations is a prospective duty that starts at the point a student establishes his or her disability and the need for accommodations. See Leschinskey v. Rectors and Visitors of Radford University, 2011 WL 5029813, at *2 (W.D. Va. 2011) (“A request for a reasonable accommodation is forward-looking. It is prospective. An employee is not entitled to a retroactive accommodation.”); see also Kaltenberger v. Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 162 F.3d 432, 437 (6th Cir. 1998) (“However, the College was not obligated to provide accommodation until plaintiff had provided a proper diagnosis of ADHD and requested a specific accommodation.”). I hope this can help. You can contact me at 203-870-6700 for further information.... Read More

HIPAA rules and regulations provide civil and criminal penalties for those who violate it, but these are enforced by the department of justice, federal attorney general, and/or state attorney general, not private citizens. A private citizen can file a complaint of HIPAA violations on http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.  There is always the possibility that the department of justice along with the federal or state attorney generals will investigate and issue sanctions so as to prevent such a breach from happening in the future.  But for a private lawsuit, a patient would have to look to state law to determine if any viable claims exist.  Arguably, HIPAA, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable rules and regulations would collectively provide a standard of care for medical records acquisition, transmission, and maintenance that could be used to prove the necessary elements under the state law causes of action. Generally, a patient would need to look at what state law claims are available in the state in which the breach occurred.  Possible claims, depending on the state, include negligence claims and violation of physician/patient confidentiality as well as invasion of privacy (public disclosure of private facts), and invasion of privacy (intrusion), if such claims exist in that state.  However, any such common law claims most certainly will require damages, which may be hard to show as the damages must be tied to the improper access and disclosure. From what you are describing, no lawyer would be interested in this case due to a minimal expectation of privacy and the nature of your damages (injury to privacy). Good luck. I hope this can help.... Read More

White smoke signals from the Vatican would work. You may also want to change your name depending on this illustrious position.  A certificat of ordination may also suit your purposes. With such a vague open ended question anything is possible. You may also try persuading those around you to address you as, "Your Holliness" or "Your Worship".  See which fits your personality best.... Read More

I am very interested in getting more details on your case.  We take bullying very seriously in my firm and have handled similar matters. Without more details on the bullying it is difficult to answer your question.  Please feel free to contact my firm for more information. 203-870-6700... Read More