Greenwich Woman Seeks $110M In Lawsuit Against Police, First Selectman

GREENWICH, CT — A Greenwich woman facing criminal charges in connection with a past eviction has filed a lawsuit against several members of the Greenwich Police Department and First Selectman Fred Camillo, claiming "a conspiracy for malicious prosecution" was leveled against her.

Caitlin Hayes, an attorney who is representing herself in the matter, filed the lawsuit in Federal District Court in mid-March. She's seeking $110 million in damages.

A Greenwich Police lieutenant, captain, sergeant, several detectives and other officers, along with GPD Chief James Heavey, and Camillo, who also serves as the town's police commissioner, were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Hayes turned herself in at Greenwich Police headquarters in July 2023 on an arrest warrant that stemmed from an incident in April that same year.

Police units responded to a home on Dwight Lane on April 17, 2023, on a report of a landlord-tenant dispute, according to police.

Police said an investigation showed that Hayes issued two checks which were later returned for insufficient funds "after entering into a lease agreement and establishing residence within the dwelling."

Hayes was charged with first-degree larceny and issuing a bad check over $2,000, and police at the time noted in her arrest report she "had a long history of deception and evictions" within the town.

On July 17, 2024, Hayes was additionally charged with first-degree criminal damage to property in connection with the same Dwight Lane property.

In her lawsuit, Hayes described several interactions with police following the April 2023 eviction, noting "illegal eviction, criminal lockout, police non-intervention & conspiracy of same."

Hayes claimed she was subjected to "retaliatory arrests, false charges, and destruction of exculpatory evidence to cover up police and landlord's misconduct."

She presented several legal claims in the lawsuit, including civil rights violations, destruction of evidence, conspiracy to deprive civil rights, falsely reporting an incident, interference with business expectancy, malicious prosecution, abuse of process and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Hayes is seeking $50 million in punitive damages for pain and suffering, $50 million in punitive damages for constitutional rights violations, $10 million in compensatory damages for defamation and false light, and $90,000 in liquidated damages for improper civil judgement, according to the lawsuit.

Hayes' criminal charges are pending, and her case is listed as "on the trial list, to be scheduled," the CT Judicial Branch website shows.

Hayes told Greenwich Time she anticipates "a full vindication on criminal charges..."

James Tallberg, an attorney from Rocky Hill who is representing the defendants, said in an April motion that an answer to Hayes' complaint would be filed by mid-May.

In addition to operating Hayes Law Office, PLLC, Hayes' LinkedIn profile also describes herself as a "spiritual guide and healer."

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