The Estate of Jashon Bryant and Brandon Henry against the Hartford Police Department

Lawfirm files suit against Hartford Police Department with regards to the Estate of Jashon Bryant and Brandon Henry.

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) November 30, 2006 -- Spinella & Associates and co-counsel have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Estate of Jashon Bryant and for Brandon Henry against Hartford Officer Robert Lawlor, former Hartford Chief of Police Patrick J. Harnett and the City of Hartford seeking damages and other relief resulting from Officer Lawlor's fatal shooting of Jashon Bryant and wounding of Brandon Henry in the early evening hours of May 7, 2005 on North Main Street in Hartford. The Complaint was filed in the Federal District Court in Hartford and alleges numerous violations of Jashon Bryant and Brandon Henry's civil and other rights guaranteed to them by the United States and Connecticut Constitutions and laws.

The suit alleges that Officer Lawlor used unreasonable and deadly force without factual or legal justification and in contravention of proper police procedures and department guidelines and that he then embarked upon a campaign intended to cover up and thwart a proper investigation of his conduct.

The Complaint further alleges that, Harnett, the former Chief of Police and the City of Hartford tolerated and condoned unlawful behavior by officers such as Officer Lawlor by longstanding patterns and practices and by failing to properly train Hartford Police officers or to promulgate and enforce appropriate guidelines, policies and procedures for monitoring and disciplining its officers. The family of Jashon Bryant and Brandon Henry are hopeful that the filing and prosecution of this Civil Rights Action will continue to bring to light the truth of what happened on May 7, 2005 as well as the numerous ways that this tragedy could and should have been avoided.

The law office of Spinella & Associates released the following statement in regards to this case, "The citizens of Hartford and the many professional and devoted members of the Hartford Police Department and City Administration are justifiably concerned about unacceptable levels of crime and violence in the city. We have repeatedly heard calls for an alliance between the citizens in the neighborhoods and the police on the street working together to stamp out violence. There can be no such alliance if such violence and unlawful behavior by the police is tolerated and otherwise dealt with differently than would similar behavior by a citizen. Such a dual standard only generates more distrust and hostility between those who need to be partners for peace on the streets in the neighborhoods. Only when the public sees those in uniform, such as Officer Lawlor and his superiors, called to account for their actions and inactions will the level of communication and cooperation between citizens and police improve. This lawsuit is intended to show that no one is above the law even if they wear a badge and a uniform and that they can and will be held responsible for the consequences of their behavior through the civil justice system."

This is case was filed in Hartford and is Civil Action No. 3:06: cv 01759.

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