Judge: Jury's $28.6 million award stands

May 18, 2014

STAMFORD -- John Michael Farren will have to prove he was involuntarily committed to a Hartford psychiatric ward in December -- when a jury awarded his wife $28.6 million for the severe beating he gave her with a metal flashlight -- before a judge would consider overturning the judgment against him.

State Superior Judge Robert Genuario said Wednesday morning that he would hold a hearing in mid-May during which Farren, 60, can present witnesses to prove he was locked up at Hartford Hospital's Institute for Living on suicide watch and thus could not defend himself during the December civil trial, at which he was to act as his own defense attorney.