Sinapi Law Associates, Ltd. has a proven track record over a period of nearly 40 years of protecting and vindicating the civil rights and liberties of individuals.
We can assist clients who have experienced violations of their civil rights and liberties including:
Our litigation successes include vindicating the rights of client’s whose rights to free speech, fair housing, privacy, and personal dignity, and to be free from unreasonable search and seizure were infringed:
Samir Chreim, v. Board of Governors for Higher Education of the State of Rhode Island, C.A. No. 92-0060-P (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(Action sponsored by Rhode Island ACLU in which a successful settlement was reached wherein, inter alia, the Board of Governors agreed to remove unconstitutional durational residency requirements from in-state resident tuition rate determinations).
Ducharme v. State of Rhode Island, C.A. No. 93-1675-B (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(Action sponsored by Rhode Island ACLU in which a successful settlement was reached wherein, inter alia, the Rhode Island State Police agreed to cease the unconstitutional practice of routinely strip searching arrestees charged with minor offenses).
Sylvia v. Vose, C.A. No. 94-597-B (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(Civil action brought under 42 U.S.C. §1983 seeking relief for violation of plaintiff’s civil rights due to unlawful arrest and unconstitutional strip searches performed by municipal police and state correctional officers wherein settlement was reached resulting in combined monetary settlement, including attorneys fee, of $50,000.00; settlements in the Sylvia and Ducharme cases and the publicity surrounding them effectively brought an end to the widespread unconstitutional practice of police officers in this state routinely strip searching arrestees charged with minor offenses).
Family Housing Development Corporation v. Housing Authority of the City of Providence, C.A. No. 95-373-T (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(Action brought on partially pro bono basis on behalf of minority non-profit plaintiff seeking relief for violations of plaintiffs’ civil and fair housing rights in which successful global settlement was reached wherein, inter alia, plaintiffs retained participatory role in planning and development and defendants agreed to use all reasonable means to facilitate and assist in redevelopment of 23 acre site of former housing project, and thereby established judicially enforceable obligation and commitment of local and state authorities to finally address severe shortage of affordable housing in city and the interests of the predominately low income/minority residents of lower South Providence).
Williams v. City of Warwick, C.A. No. 01-194-L (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(consent judgment entered August 8, 2001)(Rhode Island ACLU sponsored action in which the city was restrained and enjoined from enforcing municipal sign ordinance which placed unlawful content based restrictions on political signs in violation of the First Amendment, and agreed to the payment of counsel fees and costs).
Driver v. Town of Richmond, 570 F.Supp.2d 269 (D.R.I. 2008)(Rhode Island ACLU sponsored action wherein court held portion of state statute granting unbridled discretion to local authorities over whether to permit or deny posting of political signs within limits of public highway was unconstitutional, leading to consent judgment wherein defendant Town and Chief of Police agreed to declaration statute was unconstitutional on its face and as applied, permanent injunction, and payment of a combined total of $28,000.00 in damages, counsel fees and costs).
Thomas K. Jones v. Town of West Warwick, C.A. No. 08-375T (U.S.D.C., Dist. of. R.I.)(consent judgment entered August 24, 2009)(Rhode Island ACLU sponsored action wherein Town was restrained and enjoined from enforcing municipal sign ordinance which placed unlawful content based restrictions on political signs in violation of the First Amendment and agreed to the payment of a combined total of $30,000.00 in damages, counsel fees and costs).
John O. Matson v. Town of North Kingstown, C.A. No. 10-435-ML (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I) (consent judgment entered March 3, 2010)(ACLU sponsored action wherein Town was restrained and enjoined from enforcing municipal sign ordinance which placed unlawful content based restrictions on political signs in violation of the First Amendment and agreed to the payment of over $10.0000.00 in counsel fees and costs).
Judith Reilly v City of Providence, C.A. No. 10-461S, 2013 WL 1193352 (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I.)(consent judgment entered October 21, 2013)(ACLU sponsored action wherein declaratory judgment was entered and City was found to have violated free speech and press rights of resident who was ordered under threat of arrest to cease leafleting on public sidewalk in violation of the First Amendment and agreed to the payment of a combined total of $75,000.00 in damages, counsel fees and costs).
Hunter v. City of Cranston, C.A. No. 17-172 -WES-LDA (U.S.D.C., Dist. of R.I) (consent judgment entered May 6, 2019)(ACLU sponsored action wherein City was restrained and enjoined from selectively enforcing municipal sign ordinance and agreed to enforce ordinance in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner in compliance with the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article 1, §21 of the Rhode Island Constitution).
Contact us today if you have a potential Civil Rights case.
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