Connecticut Woman Awarded Nearly $837,000

A Connecticut town hall secretary who was fired by Griswold's first selectwoman has struck it rich.

Andrea Charron was awarded on Tuesday approximately $837,000 in a wrongful-firing lawsuit. The jury said that the town violated the state's whistleblower act Charron's right to free speech when it fired her in 2006.

According to the jury, Charron's letter to former First Selectwoman Anne Hatfield that criticized the woman after a fire destroyed the old Town Hall was constructed in good faith.

Charron reportedly wrote the letter believing Hatfield wrongly accused the former first selectman and one other official of permitting insurance on the old Town Hall to expire.

Griswold officials say they will appeal the verdict.