Friday, April 11, 2014

Missing Waterbury man’s family to appeal $52,666 judgment against them for defamation, emotional distress

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor

HARTFORD >> The family of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr. is appealing to the state Supreme Court, in the hope of overturning a civil ruling which ordered them to pay a $52,666 judgment to Smolinski’s former girlfriend.
In March, the state Appellate Court upheld the ruling of Superior Court Judge Thomas Corradino, who awarded the amount to Madeleine Gleason of Woodbridge, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and punitive damages.
Gleason, who dated Smolinski until they broke up just prior to his 2004 disappearance, sued his mother, Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, and his sister, Paula Bell, in 2006, claiming they harassed, defamed and falsely accused her of involvement in his disappearance.
Janice Smolinski said Thursday the family plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Read the full story here.

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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Editorial: Police move toward transparency after Sunshine Week investigation



As cynical journalists often frustrated by stonewalling and secretive government officials, we were expecting the worst when we decided to sent a reporter to every police department and state police troop in Connecticut (103 of them) this spring to test compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
And the results were pretty bad in a bunch of cases. The New Haven Police Department public information officer telling a reporter that “we keep secrets here” on that department’s way to an “F” grade sparked outrage from citizens of New Haven and open government advocates across the country.
But departments such as South Windsor showed that they are very serious about complying with the law, embracing public access to information about arrests and police activity, and that they have trained their rank-and-file staff well on these principles.

Read more here

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Lawmakers divided on bill that would protect journalists from being forced to divulge sources, other information

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor 

The state’s federal lawmakers say they support a proposed federal shield law for reporters, to protect the news media from being forced to disclose information like sources.
The federal Free Flow of Information Act of 2013 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last September. It still awaits action by Congress.
According to the national Society of Professional Journalists, most states, including Connecticut, provide journalists with a “reporter’s privilege,” protecting them “if a state government seeks to make him or her reveal confidential information, including the identity of a source.”

Read the full story here, part of our Sunshine Week project.

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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Family of missing Billy Smolinski Jr. loses court appeal in defamation case




(Peter Casolino — Register file photo) Jan and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, are still looking for answers in the disappearance of their son, Billy, who has been missing since 2004.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor

HARTFORD >> The state Appellate Court has upheld a judge’s ruling that two family members of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr. should have to pay a $52,666 judgment to Smolinski’s former girlfriend.
Madeleine Gleason of Woodbridge, who dated Smolinski until they broke up just prior to his 2004 disappearance, sued his mother, Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, and his sister, Paula Bell, in 2006, claiming they harassed, defamed and falsely accused her of involvement in his disappearance.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Corradino in 2012 awarded $52,666 to Gleason, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and punitive damages.
This Appellate Court decision upholds Corradino’s award.

Read more here

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