Congratulations to Attorney Nicole Fournier-Gelston on her recent victory at the Connecticut Appellate Court

Attorney Fournier-Gelston recently defended an appeal at the Connecticut Appellate Court. The case involved the death of Sherrie Kastancuk, who on February 2, 2002 was arrested on a shoplifting charge and taken into custody by the East Haven Police Department. While in custody, Ms. Kastancuk committed suicide by hanging herself in the holding cell. Her estate brought a lawsuit against the Town of East Haven and several police officers, suing for substantial money damages.

The Complaint was in multiple counts, including a claim that the police officers violated Ms. Kastancuk's constitutional rights, that the Town of East Haven maintained policies or customs that constituted deliberate indifference to the rights of incarcerated detainees and a claim that town and officers were negligent in their duty to protect Ms. Kastancuk from self-injury, once she was under the care, custody and control of the police.

Attorney Fournier-Gleston, who represented the defendants along with Attorney Hugh F. Keefe, successfully moved to strike the entire lawsuit brought by the plaintiff. The plaintiff appealed and the matter was briefed and argued before the Connecticut Appellate Court. Following oral argument, the appeals court upheld the trial court's ruling, thereby confirming the defendants' complete victory.