Hunger-striking prisoner fights force-feedings
Legal News Center
Attorneys for a British prisoner who lost more than 100 pounds during a hunger strike have asked Connecticut's Supreme Court to prevent prison officials from force-feeding him.
The prisoner, William Coleman, stopped eating in September 2007 over claims he was convicted on a fabricated rape charge. Authorities began feeding him by a tube inserted through his nose a year later when he stopped accepting fluids.
Coleman has since begun voluntarily accepting liquid nutrition but he argues that the force-feedings violate his right to free speech.
His lawyers argued before the seven-judge panel on Tuesday that a lower court was wrong to rule last year that the feedings by the state Department of Correction can be permitted.
Assistant Attorney General Lynn Wittenbrink says prison officials are obliged to protect inmates' lives.
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Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.