BRIDGEPORT — Between Tuesday and Wednesday, three patients wound up in Bridgeport Hospital’s emergency room after getting hit by cars while crossing the street. Over the past few months, Bridgeport Hospital has averaged about 10 accidents a month in which walkers or cyclists were struck by cars, said Dr. Shea Gregg, chairman of trauma at the hospital. A gray sport utility vehicle struck Ismael Colon, 19, on Thursday night, and he died from complications of brain trauma. Tuesday evening’s accident — in which 50-year-old Harvey Scott of Sage Avenue was hit by two cars — was also particularly brutal. While police have witness accounts and surveillance video of the incident, they have not found or identified the alleged hit-and-run driver. Other area hospitals, including Greenwich Hospital and Yale New Haven, said they hadn’t noticed an uptick, and local police departments contacted for the story — including those in Trumbull, Stratford, Ansonia and Shelton — said they hadn’t seen an increase either. […] there have been some serious pedestrian accidents throughout the state recently, including one in Stamford in early November, in which Karina Tinajero-Arreguin, 18, was struck and killed by a van as she crossed Strawberry Hill Avenue in front of Stamford High School.
Please email me or call [phone number =”(203) 259-5251″ text=”(203) 259-5251″] if you or someone you care about has questions about pedestrian accidents in Connecticut.
Source: Bridgeport hospitals see spike in pedestrian accidents
At least half of the aged-out youth rely on public assistance, one in five leaves the foster care system without a high school diploma and only 11 percent go on to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. DCF Commissioner Joette Katz, who participated in a youth forum Thursday at the State Capitol, said the success of foster children once they leave the system is perhaps the most important measure of how well the agency is serving youth. (There is) lower educational achievement, greater poverty and homelessness, less success in employment, and greater involvement in adult mental health and criminal justice systems. The law gives children age 12 and older a stronger voice during hearings, requires youth advisory councils at certain child care facilities, and will survey foster children exiting the system to better recruit, train and retain high-quality foster parents. Williams, who is in the process of transferring from Gateway Community College to the University of Connecticut to study human development, said foster youth need more help to prepare for their future and to maintain connections. The group recommends a guaranteed 90-day transition period, homelessness prevention and better data collection so those aging out don’t “face an abrupt cliff once they become legal adults.”
Source: Report: Foster care has unhappy ending for many – Connecticut Post
Here is a summary from a recent case from Stamford Court regarding a Stamford pit bull attack.
The plaintiff was walking her dog at a park. A pit bull jumped out of a car and jumped on the victim. She went to hospital with broken bones. Eventually, she needed hip surgery.
The plaintiff was very active prior to the attack. She would walk 10 -12 miles per day. After, she could only walk about a quarter of a mile. The judge found that she is unable to enjoy many of the activities she was able to engage in prior to this incident.
The judge awarded $20, 291.68 for the full cost of her medical bills. In addition, the plaintiff was awarded $400,000 for pain and suffering and diminished enjoyment of life.
Please email me or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 if you or someone you know was the victim of a Stamford pit bull attack.
I represent clients throughout Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Were you just served with a document called Connecticut Summons Family Actions? This is also known a divorce summons. Its the first page of the paperwork needed to start a case in Connecticut Family Court.
It contains the following important information:
- Address of the court;
- Return Date; and
- Whether your spouse is self-represented or has a lawyer.
Connecticut Summons Family Actions – Bridgeport & Stamford Family Court Lawyer
The Summons directs a process server, usually a State Marshal, to notify someone that their spouse is filing for divorce, legal separation, annulment.
It provides some basic information to the Defendant such as the address of the court and the Return Date by which they should file an Appearance. If an Appearance is not filed the case could proceed to judgment in the Defendant’s absence.
After the Summons page you should see a Complaint or Application. This is where you will find what the Plaintiff is asking the judge to order.
So – what do you do now?
Don’t panic.
Contact me to discuss next steps and protect your legal interests.
I represent clients in Family Court matters throughout Fairfield County including Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Send an Email or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 if you were just served with a Connecticut Summons Family Actions.
In the article below, you can see my interview quotes on this topic published in the Connecticut Law Tribune.
Please email me or call (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information on a divorce and other pet custody disputes.
An Uncared for Special Needs Petition focuses on the child’s behaviors rather than the parent’s conduct. Therefore, it is more gentle DCF approach in the Juvenile Court than a filing a Neglect Petition against parents. But the ultimate outcome is often the same – Committment of the child to DCF rather than the state providing services to prevent out of home placement.
When parents cannot access or afford high-level mental health care, or when they refuse to take their children home from hospital emergency rooms because they fear for the safety of their families, they end up in a situation they say is untenable: relinquishing custody to DCF, which means losing control over treatment decisions and, in some cases, losing track of their children entirely.
A group has come together to speak to legislators about tightening state rules to eliminate custody relinquishment as an option for accessing intensive mental health services. The group met with DCF officials recently to air their concerns and is considering a class-action lawsuit against the state to contest the practice of using so-called “uncared for” petitions for children with complex behavioral needs who need residential care. The parents and lawyers allege that financial considerations are prompting the custody-for-care pressure by DCF workers, as the agency reduces funding for children not legally in its care and limits residential placements.
When states take custody of children, they are able to access federal funds to provide mental health services, the advocates say — and the state no longer has to heed parents’ demands for expensive residential treatment.
DCF policy is supposed to be that parents who have children with complex and unmet needs and who meet eligibility for Voluntary Services may receive help to access any public or private community services. But in my experience this is rarely the case. This is especially true with now with DCF laying off workers and reducing voluntary, specialized out-of-state placements.
Contact me by email or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 if you would like more information regarding a DCF Uncared for Special Needs Petition.
Source: Families faced with giving up custody for care – Connecticut Post