Berchem Moses PC

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Municipal Law

Attorney Mario Coppola, as corporation counsel for Norwalk, CT, reached a settlement of $3.25 million for the city and the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency over a long disputed property (POKO property).

$386,000

Commercial Litigation

A jury sided with Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) in its claim against Wesleyan University over the closure of the DKE fraternity house. The jury found that Wesleyan violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, made negligent misrepresentations, and interfered with the fraternity’s business relationships.

Estate Planning

Attorneys Matthew J. Sponheimer and Chandler K. Holcomb recently represented Eugene Kimmel, executor of the estate of the late Janet Moultis. Janet’s will, written in 1974, left her estate first to her husband; if he were not living, then to her parents; and if they were not living, to her brothers and sisters. Janet’s husband and parents predeceased her. The attorneys applied Connecticut’s antilapse statute to honor family inheritance.

Employment Law

The Connecticut Supreme Court denied a fired New Haven police officer’s attempt to appeal his termination. The officer was fired following a Dec. 25, 2019 incident during which he kicked a handcuffed man in the groin and then lifted him from the ground by his hair. The city’s police commission voted that the officer's actions constituted excessive force; a state mediation board later upheld the commission’s decision, as did the Connecticut Superior Court and the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Municipal Law

Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe ruled that Success Village, a 924-unit residential co-op in Bridgeport and Stratford, will be placed under the oversight of an independent receiver due to chronic lack of hot water, no heating system, and multiple health and fire code violations. The Court found an emergency situation existed and supported the extraordinary relief requested by the municipalities.

Labor Law

Richard J. Buturla obtained a temporary restraining order on behalf of Project Service LLC against Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ SEIU, preventing interference with business operations and ensuring safety during a rally at the I-95 Darien service plaza.