Christine Maisano v. Congregation Or Shalom et al., 2009 Conn. Super. LEXIS 215

Summary

The bookkeeper did not allege any type of traditional employer/employee relationship with the individuals. She only alleged that each of the individuals acquiesced to her termination by a former financial director, not that they actually had the power to do so themselves. Because § 31-51q only allowed for employer liability, the counts against the individuals had to be stricken. Discrimination that was prohibited in § 46a-60(a)(1), (a)(6), (a)(7), and (a)(8), applied only to employers. Statutory language had to be narrowly construed. The negligent hiring claim against the head of a search committee that hired the financial director failed because the committee head had no employment or special relationship with the bookkeeper that gave rise to a special duty. As Connecticut law only recognized a limited duty to prevent potential harm to third parties, the committee head had no duty to the bookkeeper when he directed the committee that hired the director. A slander claim failed because ...