Our Firm
Chinni & Associates LLC is a law firm dedicated to providing quality legal services solely to local and regional school boards, and charter school boards of trustees in Connecticut. The unique focus of our education law firm allows us to provide efficient, cost effective representation and solutions to school districts, while building strong client relationships. Chinni & Associates LLC does not represent any private parties or companies who may have interests adverse to municipal taxpayers.
Our firm provides clients with assistance in all areas of education law, including, but not limited to, labor and personnel matters, student discipline, special education, contracts and public bidding, school funding, residency and transportation disputes, civil rights complaints and public meeting and public document matters.
We have helped our clients achieve successful results in the following areas:
Our firm provides clients with assistance in all areas of education law, including, but not limited to, labor and personnel matters, student discipline, special education, contracts and public bidding, school funding, residency and transportation disputes, civil rights complaints and public meeting and public document matters.
We have helped our clients achieve successful results in the following areas:
Personnel
- Collective Bargaining – From full service representation at the bargaining table to support of in-district staff negotiators, for both certified and non-certified employees, Chinni & Associates LLC has handled all aspects of public sector collective bargaining in Connecticut, up to and including the interest arbitration process.
- Employee Benefits – We advise clients on benefits packages for both union and non-union employees.
- Grievance and Interest Arbitration – Chinni & Associates LLC has litigated grievances before both the State Board of Mediation and privately contracted arbitrators, and represented school districts in interest arbitration proceedings under both the Teacher Negotiations Act and the Municipal Employees Relations Act.
- State Board of Labor Relations Proceedings – We have handled numerous prohibited practice charges, from the initial informal conference to fully litigated complaints when resolution is not possible.
- Employee Discipline – Chinni & Associates LLC advises its clients on all aspects of employee discipline, from documentation of performance concerns to discipline and dismissal for work performance and/or misconduct.
- Teacher Nonrenewals / Terminations – We advise our clients on appropriate procedures and documentations for non-renewal of certified staff members. We have also litigated complaints filed by non-renewed and terminated staff members at the district level, before an arbitration panel and/or before state and federal agencies.
- Employment Discrimination – Chinni & Associates LLC advises its clients on the avoidance of discrimination in both hiring and terms and conditions of employment. We have also litigated cases before the CHRO and the EEOC.
Student Matters
- Student Discipline – Chinni & Associates LLC assists its clients with student expulsion hearings, serving as either counsel to the administration or as procedural advisor to the board of education.
- Residency and Transportation – We have served as counsel to the administration or counsel to the board in school accommodations hearings at the district level, and have also defended school accommodation appeals to the impartial state hearing panel.
- Homeless Students – Chinni & Associates LLC provides both proactive general advice and cases-specific consultation on the complex issues concerning homeless students.
- FERPA and Student Record Confidentiality – We assist our clients with complicated and detailed requests for student records from parents, attorneys, and third party agencies. We have also defended clients in student records disputes at local hearing level, and through the FPCO review process.
- Discrimination Claims – Chinni & Associates LLC provides legal advice in all areas of student discrimination claims, including gender, race, disability, religion, and sexual orientation.
- Section 504 Compliance – We counsel clients concerning the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for all students, and defend districts in response to disability discrimination complaints at the district level, before the Office of Civil Rights, and/or in Federal Court.
- DCF Matters – We provide training to mandated reporters, and assist clients who are involved in DCF investigations.
Special Education
- Compliance – Chinni & Associates LLC assists its clients in complying with state and federal requirements for the development and implementation of students’ individualized education programs.
- IEP Meetings – We attend IEP meetings at a client’s request.
- Dispute resolution – Chinni & Associates LLC participates in mediations conducted through the State of Connecticut Bureau of Special Education, and resolution sessions at client’s request.
- State and Federal Complaints – We assist districts in responding to State Department of Education and U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights complaints concerning procedural and/or substantive allegations. We also attend onsite investigations during the complaint process at a client’s request.
- Due Process Hearings – Chinni & Associates LLC has defended school districts in special education due process proceedings when efforts to resolve disputes have failed. The firm has also defended districts during administrative appeals to State and Federal Court.
General Legal Issues
- Board Policies and Regulations – We review and revise policies at our clients’ request.
- FOIA – Compliance & Defense - Chinni & Associates LLC assists clients in responding appropriately and promptly to requests under the Freedom of Information Act. We assist in redacting requested documents that may contain privileged, confidential or proprietary information, and in representing clients at FOIC hearings.
- Public Bidding – Chinni & Associates LLC provides its clients with assistance and advice in complying with board policies and state statutes and regulations of competitive bidding processes for goods, services, and other specialty contracted items.
- Specialized Staff Training – We provide specialized staff training on a wide variety of topics, including sexual harassment and Title IX, bullying and other student investigations, mandated reporting requirements, and many others.
Constitutional Issues
- Free Speech – Employees and Students – Chinni and Associates LLC provides general advice in the areas of student and employee free speech, such as holiday concerts, student graduation speeches, and employee speech. We also provide defense of claims of retaliation, wrongful discharge, or student discipline in First Amendment matters.
- Due Process – Employees and Students – We provide advice to our clients in the areas of due process for discipline of both employees and students.
- Religious Expression – Chinni & Associates LLC counsels clients in connection with the often complex claims of religious expression by students and staff, and the rights of audience members in connection with such speech and conduct.
- Religious Accommodation – We provide counsel to clients navigating the often difficult requests by employees, students, and visitors for accommodations to their religious beliefs.
- Searches & Seizures – Chinni & Associates LLC advises clients on state and federal law applicable to searches of students and employees, their belongings, desks, lockers, and the like.
Investigations
- Title IX – Employees and Students – Chinni & Associates LLC has conducted investigations for our clients of claims of violations of Title IX by both students and employees.
- Title IX – Athletics – We assist our clients in defending against claims of discrimination in athletics filed by students, parents, and staff. We provide counsel and assistance in responding to Office of Civil Rights investigations.
- Student Activity Funds – Chinni & Associates LLC has investigated theft and embezzlement of monies held in student activity funds by staff and others, such as parent volunteers or coaches, who have access to these funds.
- Employee Misconduct – We assist our clients in investigating other allegations of employee misconduct, such as inappropriate conduct by or relationships between staff and students or supervisors and subordinates, and other alleged misconduct.
- Bullying – Chinni & Associates LLC has conducted investigations for our clients of complex allegations of bullying among students or of students by staff members.