By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
New Haven Register
HAMDEN — The town Thursday disclosed it settled an excessive force lawsuit against the Police Department last year for $55,000.
Mayor Scott Jackson called it a “business decision” to settle as opposed to taking the case to trial.
The suit had been filed by Stephen and Nicholas Alberino in U.S. District Court in 2008. While the case was settled early last year, town officials refused to release the amount involved until now.
The New Haven Register filed a complaint with the state Freedom of Information Commission last fall, arguing the public has a right to information about a settlement involving litigation against a municipality.
A hearing took place in Hartford in February. The town Thursday finally revealed the amount, in exchange for the Register withdrawing its complaint.

Read more here. 

 HARTFORD - The town of Hamden still hasn't released the amount of a settlement in an excessive force case against Hamden police.
A hearing officer with the state Freedom of Information Commission hosted a hearing Monday, Feb. 25, in the case, as the New Haven Register lodged a complaint in October seeking the information.

Nicholas and Stephen Alberino sued several Hamden police officers in 2008 in U.S. District Court, claiming they were “brutally assaulted by a group of Hamden police officers,” in October 2007.

The lawsuit named officers William Onofrio, Angelo DeLieto, Michael DePalma, Dedric Jones, Mark Sheppard, and Michael Mello as defendants, according to the 2010 second amended complaint.

The parties reached a settlement agreement in 2012. The New Haven Register asked Town Attorney Sue Gruen and the lawyer who handled the case, Scott Karsten, for the settlement amount last August, but they have not supplied the information.
The Register is specifically seeking a copy of a document, a release after settlement, which includes the settlement amount. 

In its complaint to the Freedom of Information Commission, the Register indicated, “The public has a right to know information about a settlement involving litigation which stems from alleged misconduct by public employees. The public has a right to know the amount of a settlement, whether it was directly funded by taxpayer money, or by an insurance settlement in which coverage is paid for by taxpayers.”
At Monday's hearing, Karsten said the insurance company, CIRMA, covered the settlement, though the town was responsible for paying a deductible.
The hearing officer will prepare a proposed decision for the commission's consideration in the coming weeks.  

The New Haven Register lodged a complaint Tuesday, Oct. 9 with the Freedom of Information Commission against Hamden for not releasing information on a settlement in an excessive force case against Hamden police.

Nicholas and Stephen Alberino sued several Hamden police officers in 2008 in U.S. District Court, claiming they were “brutally assaulted by a group of Hamden police officers,” in October 2007.

The lawsuit named officers William Onofrio, Angelo DeLieto, Michael DePalma, Dedric Jones, Mark Sheppard, and Michael Mello as defendants, according to the 2010 second amended complaint.

The parties reached a settlement agreement earlier this year. The New Haven Register asked Town Attorney Sue Gruen and the lawyer who handled the case, Scott Karsten, for the settlement amount in August, but they have not supplied the information.

In its complaint to the Freedom of Information Commission, the Register indicated, “The public has a right to know information about a settlement involving litigation which stems from alleged misconduct by public employees. The public has a right to know the amount of a settlement, whether it was directly funded by taxpayer money, or by an insurance settlement in which coverage is paid for by taxpayers.”

Read the Register’s original story on the lawsuit from 2008 here.