Family of dead immigrant hires Alan Barry & Associates;landlord charged with manslaughter

DANBURY -- The family of the Ecuadorean man who died from internal injuries in November after being found on a Town Hill Avenue driveway has hired Alan Barry & Associates to represent them for a possible civil lawsuit against the person or persons responsible for his death, Barry said Wednesday.

Barry, a Danbury lawyer who handles cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice and workers' compensation, said he was contacted by a third party on behalf of Luis Encalada's family Tuesday and decided to take the case after a long discussion about the family's circumstances.

"I have a good understanding of the immigrant experience," Barry said. "My parents, they came here, they wanted a better life. They worked hard; they wanted to provide for their children. That's the story of most people; that's the story of Luis. All he wanted to do was make a better life for his kids."

Encalada, 42, died from a combination of a lacerated liver, blunt force injuries, and exsanguination, meaning he bled to death, according to the state medical examiner.

Barry said the company that put him in touch with Encalada's family, 1700Migrante, is dedicated to helping Ecuadoreans in the U.S.

Prominent Danbury landlord and Palace Theater owner Joseph DaSilva Jr., 50, was arrested Friday and charged with manslaughter and three counts of assault in connection with Encalada's death. He is free on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danbury on Tuesday.

Barry said Wednesday it is his "understanding" that Encalada was a tenant of DaSilva's, but he said he has not had time to conduct a thorough investigation after being retained on Tuesday.

Barry said he will do everything possible to relay the family's concerns and to explain to them what is going on, each step of the way.

"We tried to assure the family, as best we can, that while we may not like the outcome of our system of justice from time to time, it's a great system," Barry said. "I think the Danbury Police Department, from what I can understand, have done a very thorough investigation."

The family has "a difficult situation," Barry said. "It's really just so difficult to imagine that this family is waiting to see their husband and their father and he is working to help them and all of a sudden boom, he's gone."

"While we have no idea where any of this will lead, our system of justice will work and serve everyone," he said.
reprinted from Newstimes.com written by Melissa Bruen