Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 52 — CIVIL ACTIONS · Chapter 925 — Statutory Rights of Action and Defenses
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-571c (2026)

Action for damages resulting from intimidation based on bigotry or bias

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l may bring a civil action against the person who committed such act to recover damages for such injury.

(b) In any civil action brought under this section in which the plaintiff prevails, the court shall award treble damages and may, in its discretion, award equitable relief and a reasonable attorney's fee.

(c) No action shall be brought under this section but within three years from the date of the act complained of.

(P.A. 95-112; P.A. 00-72, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 00-72 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to “section 53a-181b” with reference to “section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l”.

Subsec. (b):

Trial court properly determined that extent of plaintiff's monetary recovery is not the determinative factor in exercise of its discretion to award reasonable attorney's fee; in determining reasonable attorney's fee, court may also consider whether plaintiff has prevailed on a significant legal issue and whether the legal action accomplished a public policy goal. 277 C. 319.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2004–2025 · leading case: Simms v. Chaisson, 890 A.2d 548 (Conn. 2006).
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Simms v. Chaisson, 890 A.2d 548 (Conn. 2006). · cites it 32× “In this appeal, we are asked to decide whether the trial court abused its discretion in awarding substantial attorney’s fees under General Statutes § 52-571c (b) 1 to plaintiffs who recovered only nominal damages.”
Prescott v. Gilshteyn, 227 Conn. App. 553 (Conn. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 8× “Following the hearing, the court issued a memorandum of decision dated March 15, 2023, in 6 General Statutes § 52-571c provides in relevant part: ‘‘(a) Any person injured in person or property as a result of an act that constitutes a violation of section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or…”
Middlesex Ins. v. Mara, 699 F. Supp. 2d 439 (D. Conn. 2010). · cites it 4× “The Revised Complaint in that action (hereinafter “Parks’ complaint” or “complaint”) contains ten counts against Mara: (1) intimidation based on bigotry or bias pursuant to Conn. Gen.Stat. § 52-571c; (2) invasion of privacy based on publicity that unreasonably places the other…”
Powell v. Cusimano, 326 F. Supp. 2d 322 (D. Conn. 2004). · cites it 8× “§ 52-571C Plaintiff seeks treble damages under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 52-571c 6 for acts he contends constituted a violation of § 53a-181k.”
Comm'n on Human Rights & Opportunities v. Brookstone Court, LLC, 945 A.2d 548 (Conn. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 5× “In Simms , our Supreme Court was faced with the question of “whether the trial court abused its discretion in awarding substantial attorney’s fees under General Statutes § 52-571c (b) 17 to plaintiffs who recovered only nominal damages.”
Doe v. Town of W. Hartford, 147 A.3d 1083 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “In September and October, 2013, the town defendants and the hospital defendants each filed a motion for summary judgment on grounds that included the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, both citing General Statutes § 52-577. 8 The hospital defendants also cited…”
Freeman v. A Better Way Wholesale Autos, Inc., 213 A.3d 542 (Conn. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 3× “80 pursuant to General Statutes § 52-571c 8 in a case where two plaintiffs had been awarded only nominal damages of $10 each under that statute.”
Perez v. D & L Tractor Trailer Sch., 981 A.2d 497 (Conn. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 2× “319 , our Supreme Court upheld an award of substantial attorney’s fees under General Statutes § 52-571c. In doing so, our Supreme Court relied on the factors addressed by Justice O’Connor in her concurring opinion in Farrar v.”
Bruno v. Whipple, 215 Conn. App. 478 (Conn. App. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “2d 548 (2006), the plaintiffs were awarded nominal damages and statutory attorney’s fees on the plaintiffs’ claim of intimidation based on bigotry and bias under General Statutes § 52-571c. Id., 320–21. Our Supreme Court indicated that the defendants had conceded that the…”
Henry v. Hill-Lilly (D. Conn. 2025). · cites it 7× “24 State Law Claims Plaintiff asserts numerous state law claims: intentional infliction of emotional distress (Count 18); fraud and misrepresentation (Count 19); criminal perjury in violation of New York State Penal Law and New York Civil Practice Law and Rule (“CPLR”) § 2106…”
Gawlik v. Semple (D. Conn. 2021). · cites it 3× “Gawlik additionally raises claims under section 52-571c, which provides a private right of action for damages for violations of sections §§ 53a–181j, 53a–181k or 53a–181l, criminal statutes that prohibit intimidation on the basis of bigotry or bias.”
Sarner v. Caldwell-Boyd (D. Conn. 2022). · cites it 2× “§ 52-571c claim where plaintiffs set forth evidence that defendant used racial slurs).”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-571c(a) — 1 case
Powell v. Cusimano, 326 F. Supp. 2d 322 (D. Conn. 2004). “§ 52-571C Plaintiff seeks treble damages under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 52-571c 6 for acts he contends constituted a violation of § 53a-181k.”
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-571c(b) — 1 case
Powell v. Cusimano, 326 F. Supp. 2d 322 (D. Conn. 2004). “§ 52-571C Plaintiff seeks treble damages under Conn. Gen.Stat. § 52-571c 6 for acts he contends constituted a violation of § 53a-181k.”
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