Case: United States v. East Haven

3:12-cv-01652 | U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Filed Date: Nov. 20, 2012

Closed Date: Dec. 13, 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On November 20, 2012, the United States of America filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiff sued the Town of East Haven and the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners under 42 U.S.C. § 14141. The Department of Justice asked the court for (1) a declaration that defendants' law enforcement practices violated the U.S. Constitution and 42 U.S.C. § 14141, and (2) an injunctive order that defendants cease engaging in such practices, implement proc…

On November 20, 2012, the United States of America filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiff sued the Town of East Haven and the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners under 42 U.S.C. § 14141. The Department of Justice asked the court for (1) a declaration that defendants' law enforcement practices violated the U.S. Constitution and 42 U.S.C. § 14141, and (2) an injunctive order that defendants cease engaging in such practices, implement procedures to remedy the unlawful policing, and adopt measures to identify, correct, and prevent future unlawful policing.

The complaint alleged the East Haven Police Department ("EHPD") enforced traffic and immigration laws against Latinos in a discriminatory fashion and demonstrated anti-Latino bias through officials' derogatory statements made to that effect. Such practices, according to the complaint, violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, namely the rights to due process and equal protection. The USA further claimed the EHPD, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, violated Latinos' constitutional rights by subjecting them to unreasonable searches and seizures and exposed them to unjustified excessive use of force.

The same day the complaint was filed, the parties--having entered into an Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing--filed a Joint Motion for Conditional Dismissal. U.S. District Court Judge Alvin W. Thompson approved the agreement and conditionally dismissed the case on December 21, 2012.

The agreement entailed, among other features, implementing remedial training relating to the use of force, stops and searches and seizures, bias-free policing, supervisory review, and the complaint-review process. The agreement would terminate after the city had been in compliance with the provisions for two consecutive years. The parties anticipated that this would take four years to achieve.

As stipulated by the agreement, the parties selected a compliance expert to report on the implementation of the terms of the agreement. In a joint status report filed June 28, 2013, the parties noted implementation was proceeding "very well."

Between 2012 and 2014, the parties file joint motions to amend or correct the agreement a number of times; each was granted by the court. The Town continued to be monitored by a Compliance Expert.

On November 30, 2017, both parties moved for the termination of the Settlement Agreement, which was granted on December 13, 2017. The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

David Postel (10/25/2013)

Saeeda Joseph-Charles (11/6/2016)

Averyn Lee (3/12/2019)

Related Cases

Chacon v. East Haven Police Department, District of Connecticut (2010)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4668784/parties/united-states-v-east-haven/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Austin, Roy L. (District of Columbia)

Daly, Deirdre M. (Connecticut)

Fein, David B. (District of Columbia)

Fleisher, Aaron S (District of Columbia)

Gunston, Emily A. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:12-cv-01652

Docket [PACER]

USA v. East Haven

July 13, 2017

July 13, 2017

Docket

Department of Justice Releases Investigative Findings on the East Haven, Connecticut, Police Department

[East Haven Police Department]

No Court

Dec. 19, 2011

Dec. 19, 2011

Press Release

3:12-cv-01652

Investigación del Departamento de Policía de East Haven [Findings Letter (Spanish)]

No Court

Dec. 19, 2011

Dec. 19, 2011

Findings Letter/Report

3:12-cv-01652

Findings Letter: Investigation of East Haven Police Department

No Court

Dec. 19, 2011

Dec. 19, 2011

Findings Letter/Report

Correspondence Re: Investigation of East Haven Police Department

No Court

Oct. 22, 2012

Oct. 22, 2012

Settlement Agreement
1

3:12-cv-01652

Complaint

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TOWN OF EAST HAVEN

Nov. 20, 2012

Nov. 20, 2012

Complaint
2-1

3:12-cv-01652

Settlement Agreement and [Proposed] Order

U.S. v. Town of East Haven

Nov. 20, 2012

Nov. 20, 2012

Settlement Agreement
11

3:12-cv-01652

Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing

U.S. v. East Haven

Dec. 21, 2012

Dec. 21, 2012

Settlement Agreement
17

3:12-cv-01652

Joint Status Report [Re: Implementation of Settlement Agreement]

U.S. v. East Haven

June 28, 2013

June 28, 2013

Pleading / Motion / Brief
20-1

3:12-cv-01652

Joint Compliance Expert Report

U.S. v. East Haven

July 19, 2013

July 19, 2013

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4668784/united-states-v-east-haven/

Last updated Aug. 20, 2026, 7:42 a.m.

Docket for: United States v. East Haven
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Nov. 20, 2012

COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by USA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

RECAP
2 Nov. 20, 2012

Joint MOTION for Entry of Settlement Agreement Order by USA. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Settlement Agreement)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

1 Proposed Settlement Agreement

View on PACER

RECAP
3 Nov. 20, 2012

Order on Pretrial Deadlines: Motions to Dismiss due on 2/20/13. Amended Pleadings due by 1/19/2013 Discovery due by 5/22/2013 Dispositive Motions due by 6/21/2013. Signed by Clerk on 11/20/12. (Ferguson, L.) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

RECAP
4 Nov. 20, 2012

ELECTRONIC FILING ORDER - PLEASE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COURTESY COPY REQUIREMENTS IN THIS ORDER. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 11/20/12. (Ferguson, L.) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

RECAP
5 Nov. 20, 2012

NOTICE TO COUNSEL: Counsel initiating or removing this action is responsible for serving all parties with attached documents and copies of 2 Joint MOTION for Entry of Settlement Agreement Order filed by USA, 4 Electronic Filing Order, 1 Complaint filed by USA, 3 Order on Pretrial Deadlines. Signed by Clerk on 11/20/12. (Ferguson, L.) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

RECAP
6 Nov. 20, 2012

NOTICE of Appearance by Sheila J. Hall on behalf of Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm (Hall, Sheila) (Entered: 11/20/2012)

RECAP
Nov. 20, 2012

Judge Alvin W. Thompson added. (Oliver, T.)

7 Nov. 26, 2012

NOTICE of Appearance by Anika Gzifa on behalf of USA (Gzifa, Anika) (Entered: 11/26/2012)

RECAP
8 Nov. 27, 2012

NOTICE of Appearance by Lawrence C. Sgrignari on behalf of Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm (Sgrignari, Lawrence) (Entered: 11/27/2012)

RECAP
9 Dec. 7, 2012

NOTICE of Appearance by Aaron S Fleisher on behalf of USA (Fleisher, Aaron) (Entered: 12/07/2012)

RECAP
10 Dec. 21, 2012

ORDER: The Joint Motion for Entry of the Parties Agreement on Constitutional and Effective Policing as an Order and For Conditional Dismissal (Doc. No. 2 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/21/2012. (Trachtenberg, L) (Entered: 12/21/2012)

RECAP
11 Dec. 21, 2012

Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/21/12. (Ferguson, L.) (Entered: 12/21/2012)

RECAP
12 Dec. 21, 2012

ORDER: This case is hereby conditionally dismissed. The Clerk shall close the case. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/21/2012. (Trachtenberg, L) (Entered: 12/21/2012)

RECAP
Dec. 21, 2012

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS SURVEY: The following link to the confidential survey requires you to log into CM/ECF for SECURITY purposes. Once in CM/ECF you will be prompted for the case number. Although you are receiving this survey through CM/ECF, it is hosted on an independent website called SurveyMonkey. Once in SurveyMonkey, the survey is located in a secure account. The survey is not docketed and it is not sent directly to the judge. To ensure anonymity, completed surveys are held up to 90 days before they are sent to the judge for review. We hope you will take this opportunity to participate, please click on this link: https://ecf.ctd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/Dispatch.pl?survey (Ferguson, L.)

13 Feb. 19, 2013

Joint NOTICE by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA re 11 Order on Selection of Joint Compliance Expert (Hughes, John) (Entered: 02/19/2013)

RECAP
14 Feb. 25, 2013

ORDER: The Joint Notice of Selection of Joint Compliance Expert (Doc. No. 13 ) is hereby APPROVED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 02/22/2013.(Trachtenberg, L) (Entered: 02/25/2013)

RECAP
15 June 25, 2013

MOTION for Aaron Fleisher to Withdraw as Attorney by USA. (Fleisher, Aaron) (Entered: 06/25/2013)

RECAP
16 June 27, 2013

ORDER: The Motion to Withdraw (Doc. No. 15 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 06/26/2013. (Trachtenberg, L) (Entered: 06/27/2013)

RECAP
17 June 28, 2013

Joint STATUS REPORT by USA, Town of East Haven, East Haven Bd of Police Comm . (Hughes, John) Modified on 7/1/2013 to include additional filers (Ferguson, L.). (Entered: 06/28/2013)

RECAP
July 1, 2013

Docket Entry Correction re 17 Joint Status Report: modified to include additional filers (defendants) (Ferguson, L.)

18 July 17, 2013

NOTICE of Appearance by Michelle Lynn McConaghy on behalf of USA (McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 07/17/2013)

RECAP
19 July 17, 2013

Joint MOTION to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing re 11 Order by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA.Responses due by 8/7/2013 (McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 07/17/2013)

RECAP
20 July 19, 2013

NOTICE by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA of filing of Joint Compliance Expert Semi-Annual Report (Attachments: # 1 Report of Joint Compliance Expert)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 07/19/2013)

1 Report of Joint Compliance Expert

View on PACER

RECAP
21 Nov. 18, 2013

ORDER: The Motion to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing (Doc. No. 19 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 11/18/2013. (Bowers, J.) (Entered: 11/18/2013)

RECAP
22 Dec. 3, 2013

Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct 11 Order Agreement For Effective And Constitutional Policing by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA.Responses due by 12/24/2013 (Hughes, John) (Entered: 12/03/2013)

RECAP
23 Dec. 10, 2013

ORDER: The Motion to Amend/Correct the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing (Doc. No. 22 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/10/2013. (Bowers, J.) (Entered: 12/10/2013)

RECAP
24 Dec. 23, 2013

Joint NOTICE by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA of Filing of Modified Settlement Agreement (Attachments: # 1 Modified Settlement Agreement)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 12/23/2013)

1 Modified Settlement Agreement

View on PACER

RECAP
25 Jan. 27, 2014

NOTICE by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm, USA re 24 Notice (Other) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 365 Day Compliance Report by Joint Compliance Expert)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 01/27/2014)

1 Exhibit 365 Day Compliance Report by Joint Compliance Expert

View on PACER

RECAP
26 Feb. 6, 2014

ORDER: The 365-Day Compliance Report (Doc. No. 25 ) is hereby REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 02/06/2014. (Bowers, J.) (Entered: 02/06/2014)

RECAP
27 April 10, 2014

Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct 11 Order, 10 Order on Motion for Order, 12 Order Motion to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm.Responses due by 5/1/2014 (Sgrignari, Lawrence) (Entered: 04/10/2014)

RECAP
28 April 15, 2014

ORDER: The Motion to Amend/Correct the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing (Doc. No. 27 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 04/15/2014. (Bowers, J.) (Entered: 04/15/2014)

RECAP
29 Aug. 14, 2014

Joint NOTICE by USA re 14 Order on Joint Compliance Expert (Hughes, John) (Entered: 08/14/2014)

RECAP
30 Aug. 15, 2014

ORDER: The Joint Notice of Replacement of Independent Joint Compliance Expert (Doc. No. 29 ) is hereby APPROVED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 08/15/2014. (Bowers, J.) (Entered: 08/15/2014)

RECAP
31 Aug. 29, 2014

NOTICE by USA of Filing of 18-Month Compliance Report (Attachments: # 1 Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing 18-Month Compliance Report)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 08/29/2014)

1 Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing 18-Month Compliance Report

View on PACER

RECAP
32 Oct. 7, 2014

ORDER: The 18-month Compliance Report (Doc. No. 31 ) has been REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 10/07/2014. (Koehler, S) (Entered: 10/07/2014)

RECAP
33 Dec. 16, 2014

Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct 11 Order to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing by Town of East Haven, East Haven BD of Police Comm.Responses due by 1/6/2015 (Hall, Sheila) (Entered: 12/16/2014)

RECAP
34 Dec. 19, 2014

ORDER: The Joint Motion to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing (Doc. No. 33 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/19/2014. (Koehler, S) (Entered: 12/19/2014)

RECAP
35 March 24, 2015

NOTICE by USA (Attachments: # 1 COMBINED TWO-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE REPORT)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 03/24/2015)

1 COMBINED TWO-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE REPORT

View on PACER

RECAP
36 June 16, 2015

ORDER: The Notice of Filing of Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing Combined Two-Year Comprehensive Report and 24-Month Compliance Report (Doc. No. 35 ) is hereby APPROVED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 06/16/2015. (Koehler, S) (Entered: 06/16/2015)

RECAP
June 16, 2015

Order

37 Sept. 25, 2015

NOTICE by USA re 11 Order Joint Compliance Expert's 30-Month Compliance Report (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Joint Compliance Expert's 30-Month Compliance Report)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 09/25/2015)

1 Exhibit Joint Compliance Expert's 30-Month Compliance Report

View on PACER

RECAP
38 Sept. 25, 2015

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by USA re 37 Notice (Other) of Filing of joint Compliance Expert's 30-Month Compliance Report (Hughes, John) (Entered: 09/25/2015)

RECAP
39 Nov. 18, 2015

ORDER: The 30-month Compliance Report (Doc. No. 37 ) has been REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. (The court assumes that in the first full paragraph on page 10 (first line) the reference is to a six percentage point difference.) It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 11/18/15. (Mata, E.) (Entered: 11/18/2015)

RECAP
Nov. 18, 2015

Order

40 Feb. 5, 2016

Joint MOTION to Amend/Correct 24 Notice (Other) Settlement Agreement by USA.Responses due by 2/26/2016 (Hughes, John) (Entered: 02/05/2016)

RECAP
41 Feb. 10, 2016

ORDER: Joint Motion to Modify Certain Provisions of the Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing (Doc. No. 40 ) is hereby GRANTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 2/10/2016. (Calle, K) (Entered: 02/10/2016)

RECAP
Feb. 10, 2016

Order on Motion to Amend/Correct

42 May 6, 2016

NOTICE by USA re 11 Order of Filing of Joint Compliance Expert's 36 Month Compliance Report (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit JCE 36 Month Compliance Report)(Hughes, John) (Entered: 05/06/2016)

1 Exhibit JCE 36 Month Compliance Report

View on PACER

RECAP
43 June 21, 2016

ORDER: The 36-month Compliance Report (Doc. No. 42 ) has been REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 6/21/16.(Mata, E.) (Entered: 06/21/2016)

RECAP
June 21, 2016

Order

44 Sept. 26, 2016

Joint NOTICE by USA of Filing of 42-Month Compliance Report (Attachments: # 1 42-Month Compliance Report)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 09/26/2016)

1 42-Month Compliance Report

View on PACER

RECAP
45 Dec. 7, 2016

ORDER: The 42-Month Compliance Report (Doc. No. [44-1]) has been REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. It is ordered. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/7/16. (Mata, E.) (Entered: 12/07/2016)

RECAP
Dec. 7, 2016

Order

46 April 28, 2017

Joint NOTICE by USA of Status of 48-Month Report of Joint Compliance Expert (McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 04/28/2017)

RECAP
47 May 3, 2017

ORDER: The joint Notice (Doc. No. 46 ) of intention to file the 48 Month Report of the Joint Compliance Expert by May 16, 2017 is hereby APPROVED. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 5/3/17. (Mata, E.) (Entered: 05/03/2017)

RECAP
May 3, 2017

Order

48 May 15, 2017

NOTICE by USA of Filing 48 Month Compliance Report (Attachments: # 1 Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing 48 Month Report)(McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 05/15/2017)

1 Agreement for Effective and Constitutional Policing 48 Month Report

View on PACER

RECAP
49 July 13, 2017

ORDER: The 48-Month Compliance Report (Doc. No. 48 -1) has been REVIEWED and ACCEPTED. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 7/13/17. (Mata, E.) (Entered: 07/13/2017)

RECAP
July 13, 2017

Order

50 Nov. 29, 2017

NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen M. Ryals on behalf of USA (Ryals, Stephen) (Entered: 11/29/2017)

RECAP
51 Nov. 30, 2017

Joint MOTION for Termination of the Settlement Agreement by USA.Responses due by 12/21/2017 (McConaghy, Michelle) (Entered: 11/30/2017)

RECAP
52 Dec. 13, 2017

ORDER: The parties' Joint Motion for Termination of the Settlement Agreement (Doc. No. 51 ) is hereby GRANTED. The Settlement Agreement is terminated and the action is dismissed. Signed by Judge Alvin W. Thompson on 12/13/17. (Mata, E.) (Entered: 12/13/2017)

RECAP
Dec. 13, 2017

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

Case Details

State / Territory:

Connecticut

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Traffic Stop Litigation

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 20, 2012

Closing Date: Dec. 13, 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States of America

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City

Town of East Haven

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Unreasonable search and seizure

Other Dockets:

District of Connecticut 3:12-cv-01652

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Findings Letter/Report

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Monitoring

Monitor/Master

Provide antidiscrimination training

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Amount Defendant Pays: 0

Order Duration: 2012 - 2017

Issues

General/Misc.:

Failure to discipline

Failure to supervise

Failure to train

Language access/needs

Pattern or Practice

Racial profiling

Record-keeping

Search policies

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Impact

Disparate Treatment

Discrimination Basis:

Immigration status

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Affected Language(s):

Spanish

Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):

Hispanic

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Over/Unlawful Detention (facilities)

Policing:

Excessive force

Inadequate citizen complaint investigations and procedures

Traffic Stops

Recommended Citation