JURY VERDICT IN FAVOR OF CITY AND MAYOR ON AGE DISCRIMINATION CLAIM: The plaintiff claimed that the City and its Mayor did not select him for the position of Fire Chief because of his age in violation of state and federal law. The City and Mayor contended that they selected another candidate based on his superior qualifications and interview responses. After a six day trial in federal court and less than thirty minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the City and Mayor on all counts. The judge subsequently awarded costs against the plaintiff and in favor of the City and Mayor in excess of $1,200.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT ENTERED BY COURT IN DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CASE: The plaintiff had alleged that her employer discharged her instead of reasonably accommodating her disability. The Court held that the plaintiff had failed to show that she was a qualified person with a disability who could perform the essential elements of her job with reasonable accommodation.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSIONER FINDS IN FAVOR OF EMPLOYER ON RETALIATORY DISCHARGE CLAIM: The employee had claimed that he was discharged because he pursued his rights under the Workers' Compensation Act. After a four day hearing, the Workers' Compensation Commission found the employee and his witness not credible, upholding the employee's discharge decision for gross negligence.

JUDGMENT ENTERED BY COURT UPHOLDING SCHOOL BOARD'S UNIFORM POLICY: The student plaintiffs claimed that the school attire policy deprived them of the liberty and privacy to wear clothing of their choice while attending school. The students also challenged the authority of the Board of Education to discipline students for violating the school attire policy. In a precedent setting decision, a state court judge upheld the authority of the Board of Educaton to impose reasonable egulations that advance educational interests, ruling that the school attire policy was "rationally related to reducing actual disruptions and loss of instructional time caused by students' preoccupations with fashionable clothing, including blue jeans." This is the first court in the country to adjudicate a school uniform case on the merits after a full trial. The court's decision may pave the way for other school districts in Connecticut and nationally to adopt uniform policies.