Prisoners Have Rights; We Protect Them
Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder attorneys Antonio Ponvert and Richard Bieder represent the families of a number of prison inmates and individuals at other state institutions who have been victims of excessive force or the failure of prison officials to recognize and/or properly treat psychiatric conditions.
We have prevailed in many prison abuse cases that involved the death of inmates, either through direct violence by prison guards or by the institution's failure to prevent suicide.
We don't take these cases because we are sympathetic to career criminals. These cases are about whether we as a society will allow someone paid with our tax dollars to put on a prison guard uniform and beat an inmate to death.
Prison Guards Performing for the Camera
We successfully represented the family of a 21-year-old man who had a long history of mental illness. He was moved from a psychiatric facility to a prison where he was killed by a group of guards. Knowing that their actions were being videotaped, the guards erased that portion of the tape and then turned the camera back on. They pretended the victim was still alive and resisting their efforts to restrain him. After viewing the tape, the medical examiner concluded that the inmate was dead long before the guards concluded their macabre performance with the inmate's dead body.
Failure to Prevent Suicide
We have represented the families of many prison inmates and residents of mental health facilities whose suicides could have and should have been prevented. One involved a 48-year old man who had a known propensity for self harm. He was moved from a high-supervision wing to the general population of a facility, where he then committed suicide.
Effecting Change
Since we began pursuing prison abuse claims, we have regularly achieved verdicts and settlements that are more than three times the previous average compensation for prison abuse death cases. Large verdicts and settlements have encouraged prisons to take action to prevent the type of behavior that results in injury and death. We made it a condition of settlement in one suicide case that the institution create suicide-resistant cells.
If your family member was seriously injured or killed because of prison abuse or abuse at a mental health facility, please contact our law firm as soon as possible to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation. From offices in Bridgeport, Stamford, Danbury and New Haven, Connecticut, our civil rights lawyers represent clients in prison abuse cases throughout the state.
Case Results
Koskoff Attorneys Sean McElligott and Josh Koskoff Win $6.5 million Verdict Against Danbury Hospital
A jury Thursday found Danbury Hospital negligent in the 2006 death of a Newtown furniture mover...
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Koskoff Attorney Antonio Ponvert Wins $41.7 million Verdict for his Client
Conn. student disabled on school trip wins $41.7M...
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KK&B Attorneys Win Largest Medical Malpractice Verdict in CT
A Norwalk couple was awarded $58.6 million Wednesday, a record for a single incident of medical malpractice in Connecticut, in a case involving an obstetrician accused of waiting too long to perform a cesarean section and a boy who has cerebral palsy...
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In the News
Koskoff Lawyers Handling Part of Michael Jackson Family Lawsuit
Koskoff Attorney Sean McElligott interviewed about $6.5 million verdict against Danbury Hospital
Attorney Josh Koskoff on product liability and guns
Attorney Josh Koskoff interviewed about suicide and suicide prevention on WATR
A mother feels outrage Parent objects to girl's death being used to explain theft
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder ranked Tier One in the US News & World Report
U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers® has listed the Connecticut-based law firm of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder as “tier one” in its 2011-2012 “Best Law Firms” rankings.
Community Involvement
Firm Sponsors Reel Law film series
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder is pleased to sponsor the Reel Law film series at The Bijou Theatre in downtown Bridgeport. The next film is The Verdict on Thursday, May 9. Click
here for more information and to view the full schedule of movies and dates, or visit us on
Facebook.
Koskoff Attorney Richard Bieder speaks to Rotary Club about 9-11 and Trial Lawyers Care
Vin Simko introduced Attorney Richard Bieder, of Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder, a firm nationally known for representing individual and class action cases resulting from mass disasters, consumer rights, personal injuries, commercial fraud and misrepresentation and other matters.
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Firm Donates $100,000 to Hospital
Attorney Chris Bernard of
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder said his firm has donated $100,000 to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. The funds have covered the cost of specialized medical equipment...
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