University of Connecticut, Storrs. University of Connecticut's The lawsuit James Brewer James Brewer.

Brewer noted that Thurmand's case made statewide news at the time.

"The way they went about it was racist, in my opinion," he said. "They took her for [a] ride and skewered her. They put her name and face and her husband's name and face all over the news like they were criminals. They needed to slow down the train until [they] at least have some probable cause by an independent agency, like a court, which they did not. This all happened because she was speaking out."