Recent Blog Posts

Mandatory Arrest Law Complicates Domestic Violence Calls

 Posted on March 16, 2017 in Hartford Criminal Defense Attorney

Mandatory Arrest Law Complicates Domestic Violence Calls, Connecticut Criminal Defense AttorneyDespite aggressive, nationwide awareness campaigns over the last several decades, domestic violence and intimate partner abuse continue to plague families throughout Connecticut and across the country. Tragically, millions of people suffer abuse at the hands of a spouse, partner, or another family member each year, and an alarmingly large number of victims are hesitant or simply refuse to seek help. Sometimes, however, a domestic violence victim will have the courage to call the police, hoping that law enforcement will help resolve the problem at hand. The police arrive and arrest the alleged abuser—then proceed to arrest the victim as well. This is known as a “dual arrest,” and the rate of such arrests in Connecticut is nearly 10 times higher than the national average.

The Problems of Mandatory Arrest

Connecticut is one of 22 states with laws that require police to make an arrest when they respond to a domestic violence call. In theory, mandatory arrest laws are intended to protect victims of abuse by eliminating the need for officers to make a judgment call on the scene. But in practice, such laws have unintended consequences. Studies suggest that many victims fear additional retaliation from their abusers following a call to a police and mandatory arrest, which means mandatory arrest laws may actually be reducing calls for help.

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Does Connecticut Have a Bail Problem?

 Posted on March 09, 2017 in Criminal Law

bail, Hartford criminal defense attorneyOver the last several months, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has been making rounds throughout the state as he tries to garner support for proposals that would continue his intended reform of the criminal justice system. The governor has labeled his efforts, which began several years ago, as “Second Chance Society” initiatives, as they focus on rehabilitating non-violent offenders and keeping them out of the state’s already crowded prisons. In 2015, Malloy was successful in getting his first series of proposals passed by the state legislature, reducing penalties and emphasizing treatment for non-violent drug offenders. This year, the governor is pushing for—among other objectives—a reform of the state’s bail programs, a change that some say is not all that necessary.

A Look at the Numbers

The Connecticut Sentencing Commission—a non-partisan committee whose membership includes judges, defense lawyers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials—conducted a study of the current state of the bail system in Connecticut. The Commission found that of the 14,800 inmates in the state’s jails and prisons, approximately one-fourth have yet to go to trial or are awaiting sentencing. About 650 defendants are still in jail for cases in which bail was set at less than $20,000. According to the Commission’s findings, approximately 14 percent of all defendants arrested for a crime are held on some sort of financial bail.

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Complicated Accident Case Nets Injured Victim $385,000 Settlement

 Posted on February 27, 2017 in Car Accident Lawyer

accidentIn many car accident cases, it is very clear that the victim was injured solely as the result of the accident. Prior to the crash, the person was physically healthy, but following the collision, the individual may have broken bones, head injuries, or a variety of other problems. Sometimes, however, the extent of damage caused by the accident can be rather unclear, especially if the victim suffered from preexisting physical health issues. When this is the case, securing fair compensation may require meticulous research and preparation by an experienced personal injury lawyer as well as medical notes and testimony from doctors or surgeons.

Ashford Woman Involved in Multiple Accidents

In May 2013, a 34-year-old woman from Ashford, Connecticut was seriously hurt when her van was hit from behind by a driver in a company-owned vehicle. According to court records, the woman suffered injuries to her lumbar region, which caused lingering pain to radiate into her legs and feet. She also incurred injuries to her neck, left elbow, and left shoulder, but the focus of her claim was her back. Her condition was ultimately treated with lumbar spinal fusion surgery in June 2015, more than two years after the accident.

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Governor Malloy Pushes for Young Adult Hybrid Justice System

 Posted on February 21, 2017 in Criminal Law

young adult, Connecticut criminal defense attorneyOver the last several years, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has spearheaded efforts to reform the Connecticut criminal justice system and to reduce the state’s prison population. In 2015, Governor Malloy successfully lobbied for the reclassification of most drug possession charges as misdemeanors as opposed to felonies, thereby reducing prison sentences for non-violent offenders. Last year, he continued promoting his “Second Chance Society” measures to reform the state’s bail system and to expand the juvenile court system’s jurisdiction to include young adults up to age 21. While the initiatives failed to gain sufficient traction during 2016, both are back on the table this year.

Raising the Age

When a juvenile breaks the law, he or she, in most cases, is subject to the jurisdiction of the state’s juvenile court system. Juvenile courts are generally more focused on education and rehabilitation than punishment. The approach is intended to prevent young offenders from becoming immersed in a criminal lifestyle, pushing them instead to become productive members of society.

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Trespassing Question Proves Key in Dog-Mauling Case

 Posted on February 13, 2017 in Hartford personal injury lawyer

trespassingWhen you no longer have a use for a larger household item or piece of furniture, have you ever put the item out by the street for passersby to take as needed? If someone were to stop and look more closely at your item, would you consider him or her to be trespassing? The notion of trespassing is one that can vary from one person to another. There is also a legal definition, of course, but as with most laws, the application of the definition frequently depends on the circumstances of a particular case. Trespassing is often an element in personal injury lawsuits involving dog bites, as highlighted by a recent ruling in Connecticut Superior Court.

Chair for the Taking

The case in question dates back to an incident that occurred in June 2014 when a 58-year-old Kent woman stopped to investigate a chair that had been placed near the side of the road on another’s property. The woman pulled her car into the driveway of the property and got out to look more closely at the chair. She was subsequently attacked by three dogs who lived on the property, causing nerve damage, lacerations, scarring, and disfigurement. The woman filed a lawsuit against the owner of the property and the dogs for medical expenses as well as non-economic damages.

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Bill Seeks to Make Homicide by Sale of Opioid a Crime

 Posted on February 06, 2017 in Drug Charges

homicide, Hartford criminal defense attorneyAs it currently stands, drug laws throughout the United States are very strict—loosening regulations on marijuana notwithstanding. In most states, including Connecticut, a single drug conviction can lead to serious criminal consequences and penalties that could follow an individual around for the rest of his or her life.

Unfortunately, however, many throughout the country believe that the so-called “War on Drugs” has ultimately failed. Instead of getting illegal substances off our streets and away from our children, drug problems persist and our prisons are as crowded as ever. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has been a leader in a new approach toward drug crimes in the state, shifting the focus, in most cases, from punishment to education and reform. Such efforts have been primarily intended for non-violent offenders and those charged with relatively minor offenses. But now, two other Connecticut lawmakers have proposed legislation that would create a new drug crime in the state: homicide by sale of an opioid.

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EDRs and Auto Accidents: Putting the Pieces Together

 Posted on January 25, 2017 in Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney

EDR, Hartford personal injury attorneyYour car is an amazing machine. The modern passenger vehicle is the product of years of technological innovation and advanced research in aerodynamics, materials science, and computers. In the last decade or so, the automotive industry has borrowed heavily from the air travel sector as it continues its quest for driver and passenger safety. That is why almost every new car sold in the United States today is equipped with an event data recorder, or EDR, meaning that it is now possible for investigators to find out what was happening with the vehicle at a particular moment in time, including in the seconds leading up to a serious car accident.

Recording Important Information

In your vehicle, there are dozens—if not hundreds—of sensors and computers that are constantly measuring various functions and elements of the car’s performance. Some analyze fuel consumption, engine temperature, oil pressure, and speed, of course, but others also keep track of anti-lock brake performance, cruise control, and the status of your car’s airbags. The EDR compiles all of the data from each of the sensors and system storing it for future use, should it ever be needed.

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Former Police Officer Sues Department for Discrimination, Misconduct

 Posted on January 18, 2017 in Hartford Criminal Defense Attorney

misconduct, Hartford criminal defense attorneySeemingly every other week or so, there is a new report of alleged misconduct of some type involving police officers. Over the last several years, we have heard countless stories of police shootings, overaggressive behavior by officers against criminal suspects, and allegations of blatant and systemic racism. Due in large part to these types of examples, many people are hesitant to trust law enforcement officers and such apprehension is understandable. Now, a federal lawsuit recently filed in Connecticut suggests that there is even a measure of distrust of certain officers and officials among other police officers.

Federal Action

Earlier this month a former member of the Rocky Hill police department filed suit in federal court in Bridgeport seeking damages for harassment and discrimination. The suit names four defendants, including the Rocky Hill police chief and another officer, as well as the current and former Town Managers of Rocky Hill.

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State Supreme Court Rules on Dog Sniff Searches in Apartment Buildings

 Posted on January 11, 2017 in Drug Charges

apartment, Hartford criminal defense attorneyIn the realm of criminal law, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides one of the most basic rights afforded to citizens of this country. The Fourth Amendment states that an individual’s right to security regarding his or her person, home, and belongings may not be violated by unreasonable searches and seizures. It further specifies that a warrant for a search by the government shall only be issued when probable cause exists and is supported by a sworn or affirmed statement.

While the rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment sound simple enough in theory, the definition of an unreasonable search or seizure has been consistently debated for nearly two and half centuries since the amendment’s ratification. Recently, the Connecticut Supreme Court added another chapter to the discussion as it issued its ruling on a case involving a drug-sniffing dog working in the hallway of an apartment complex.

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Cell Phone Car Accident Case Settles for $1.3 Million

 Posted on January 05, 2017 in Distracted Driving

cell phone, Hartford personal injury attorneyMobile cellular technology is absolutely amazing. Evolving from battlefield radio communication devices used during World War II, the first consumer cell phone hit the global market in 1983. Produced by Motorola, the first cellular phone was bulky, expensive, and would die after just 30 minutes of talk time. In the three decades since, we have seen tremendous advances in the communications industry, with cell phones now being able to fit comfortably in a pocket and maintain a charge for days at a time. Today, however, cell phones have also become a source of danger, especially when they are used by individuals who are driving a car or truck. While using a hand-held cell phone while driving is illegal in many states, including Connecticut, many drivers cannot put their phones down, contributing to many unnecessary accidents, injuries, and deaths.

Seriously Injured Couple Settles

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