Facts: An 8th grade student injured her leg during recess on a school playground when she ran into a steel post. The family sued the school and the New Haven Board of Education alleging failure to supervise the student, failure to inspect the school premises and failure to warn of a dangerous condition on the […]
What is “joint custody” in Connecticut? ” I field a lot of phone calls on this issue. Here is how custody really works in Connecticut or what “joint custody” does or does not mean. Whether I am representing a parent in a contested custody case or have been appointed by the Court as a child’s […]
The Legislature recently passed a bill designed to offer more protection to victims of domestic violence. Governor Malloy is expected to sign the bill. Here are the key provisions: 1. An arrest is mandatory for dating violence. Currently, the police have discretion as to whether those in a “dating” relationship should be arrested. 2. Those […]
The DCF Hotline number: 1-800-842-2288. I get calls or emails occasionally from those wishing to make a report. Don’t contact me to make a report. Call 1-800-842-2288 Who should call? Anyone who has a “reasonable suspicion” that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect. Who must call? Mandated reporters such as school personnel, […]
PAS has been defined as “a mental condition in which a child, usually one whose parents are engaged in a high conflict divorce, allies himself or herself strongly with one parent, and rejects a relationship with the other parent, without legitimate justification.” One argument in favor of PAS being recognized as a legitimate mental health […]
A Montana lawmaker proposed legislation to require a couple with children under the age of 18 to attend seven sessions of counseling before being granted a divorce. He apparently wants couples to think twice (or seven times) before divorcing. The idea of counseling is not a novel one. What is unique is seven mandatory sessions […]