United States (1984), Connecticut District Court
Thurman v. City of Torrington
(595 F. Supp. 1521 D. Conn. 1984)
The plaintiff sued the city, arguing that the police department had violated her constitutional right to equal protection under the law. She claimed that officers failed to enforce her estranged husband's probation orders, and ignored his assaults against her. The jury awarded her significant damages, and following the case, many police departments strengthened their policies on responding to domestic violence.
“If officials have notice of the possibility of attacks on women in domestic relationships or other persons, they are under an affirmative duty to take reasonable measures to protect the personal safety of such persons in the community. [A] police officer may not knowingly refrain from interference in such violence... Such inaction on the part of the officer is a denial of the equal protection of the laws.” (Quoted form Original Judgment)
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