Press Release

Superior Court jury finds in favor of hate crime victims

BRIDGEPORT, CT, August 11, 2004 – The Bridgeport-based law firm of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. successfully represented an inter-racial family that was victimized in 1999 and 2000 by their white neighbors.  After a three day trial, a Derby Superior Court jury found in the plaintiffs’ favor, concluding that Wilfred and Michelle Chaisson, formerly of Milford, violated a Connecticut statute that prohibits intimidation based on bigotry or bias, General Statutes Section 52-571c.  In reaching this verdict, the jury determined that the Chaissons threatened to do physical harm to the plaintiffs or to their property, and that, in doing so, they acted maliciously and with the specific intent to harass the plaintiffs based on their race.  It is believed that this is the first jury verdict in Connecticut based on a violation of this statute.  The jury also found the defendants liable for intentionally and negligently inflicting emotional distress on the plaintiffs and awarded them money damages on these claims. 

Attorneys Stuart M. Katz and Ari J. Hoffman represented the plaintiffs in the trial of this matter.