Civil Rights Violations and Constitutional Issues
The U.S. Constitution, its essential amendments, including the fundamentals of due process and equal protection, and congressional enabling acts, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provide "We, the People" with certain inalienable rights and safeguards against abuses of power by the government or others.
At Barrie L. Goldstein, LLC, Ms. Goldstein's passion for the law, and for constitutional law in particular, have been evident throughout her entire career.
Drawing from nearly 20 years of government service and more than 30 years of litigation experience involving civil rights and constitutional law — Ms. Goldstein's practice focuses on representing individuals, organizations and classes of people with constitutional or civil rights claims in western Connecticut and the environs of New York, including New York City.
The issues and events involved with civil rights and constitutional cases can vary greatly ranging from single incidents of police brutality or wrongful termination to complex land use actions involving the takings clause to due process or class action lawsuits based on difficult-to-establish patterns of discrimination. Ms. Goldstein has experience with all of these and more.
Ms. Goldstein, admitted to practice in both Connecticut and New York federal courts, also has extensive appellate experience and fondly refers to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as her "home court."
Selected Reported Cases
- Algonquin SNG v. FEA, 518 F.2d 2d 1051 (D.C. Cir.), rev'd, 426 U.S. 548 (1976). A constitutional challenge to President Ford's imposition of $3.00 license fee on imported oil.
- Barrett v. U.S., 668 F. Supp. 1201 (S.D.N.Y. 1987), aff'd, 853 F.2d 124 (2nd Cir. 1988). The "guinea pig" case. This was a suit involving complex issues of federalism brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the United States and, in turn, New York, for the wrongful death of a mental patient who was injected with chemicals without prior testing.
- Farmland Dairies v. Commissioner of New York State Dep't of Agriculture and Markets, 650 F. Supp. 939 (E.D.N.Y. 1987), appeal dismissed, 847 F.2d 1038 (2nd Cir. 1988). This case involved a constitutional challenge to New York's refusal to license a New Jersey milk dealer to sell milk in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
- Texas Landowners Rights Ass'n v. Harris, 453 F. Supp. 1025 (D.D.C. 1978), aff'd, 598 F.2d 311 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 915 (1979). A challenge to the constitutionality of the National Flood Insurance Program.
- United States v. State of New York, 522 F. Supp. 255 (N.D.N.Y. 1932), aff'd, 708 F.2d 92 (2d Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 1907 (1984). This case involved the fight between the federal government and New York for control over noise abatement measures at airports.
- Vann v. Housing Authority of Kansas City, Mo., 87 F.R.D. 642 (W.D. Mo. 1980). A constitutional and statutory challenge, brought under Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, to HUD's purported discrimination in the provision of low income housing.
Contact Information
Reach our Litchfield County, Connecticut, offices directly at 860-946-4855, toll free at 866-604-3865, or contact us online.
