Missed deadlines at the state office that decides who can sue Connecticut government have sparked debate about whether an overhaul is needed, or whether the office should even exist.
The Office of the Claims Commissioner decides whether the state should waive its immunity and allow certain cases to go to court.
Lawyers say the claims commissioner process can delay justice and re-traumatize people trying to sue the state for the wrongful deaths of loved ones or their own injuries. Some attorneys question whether the office is needed at all.
The state Attorney General's Office conducted a review and found that the Claims Commissioner's Office has missed the two-year deadline to decide cases in many instances.
State legislators plan to discuss possible improvements to the process during next year's legislative session.
