As Plaintiffs Quit, Conn. Towns' Suit Over Aid Falters

By John Gehring

A Connecticut school finance lawsuit, filed more than four years ago with the high expectations of 12 towns that were challenging the way the state hands out education dollars, may not even make it to trial.

Many of the original plaintiffs have backed out of the lawsuit because of legal bills that have added up over the history of the case. Only four of the original towns remain in the suit.

Even East Hartford, where the lawsuit began, has stepped away, at least for now, because of budget pressures. Mayor Tim Larson said last week that his town was looking at a...