An October 2012 article in the “Connecticut Law Tribune” titled, “Man’s Death In Romania Prompts Federal Lawsuit,” highlighted Tony Minchella’s deep experience litigating unfair trade practice claims. The magazine’s October 2012 article outlined a lawsuit concerning former Sacred Heart University basketball star, Chauncey Hardy, who was playing professionally in Romania, and was beaten to death in a Bucharest pub in 2011. The basketball star’s family in Connecticut sought justice for their son’s death through Romania attorneys, “but they were deterred.” The article by reporter Christian Nolan stated, “The family took a rare approach and filed a federal lawsuit in federal court in Connecticut against the Romanian Basketball Federation, a Romanian hospital, two doctors, Hardy’s basketball coach and team, and the man who beat Hardy in a bar. Allegations in the 18-count lawsuit included assault, breach of contract, negligence, medical malpractice, misrepresentation, and violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA).” Tony was quoted as stating, “The plaintiffs have a decent shot of keeping their CUTPA claim alive against overseas defendants in a Connecticut federal court because of the alleged misrepresentations in the recruitment process there.” He went on to state, “The contract could contain a specific choice of law provision making Romanian law the governing law, which can control the CUTPA analysis.”
