Ex-Cop Wins $114K in Hartford Disability Bias Lawsuit
Table of Contents
Case Background
This case revolved around a long dispute between Alfred Lassen, a former Hartford police officer, and the City of Hartford. Lassen joined the Hartford Police Department in December 2009 and served until March 2016. During his service, he was diagnosed with narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder that can cause sudden sleep attacks. He alleged that the City had been fully aware of his condition.
The City terminated Lassen’s employment in March 2016. After that, Lassen tried repeatedly to regain employment with the department, but his applications were denied. He filed multiple complaints with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), alleging disability discrimination and retaliation. When CHRO gave him releases of jurisdiction, Lassen pursued his claims in Superior Court.
The case went to trial in Hartford Superior Court, where the central questions were whether the City had refused to rehire Lassen because of his disability and whether it had retaliated against him for filing earlier discrimination complaints.
Cause
Lassen brought two main claims under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA).
First, he alleged disability discriminatio
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