A Connecticut attorney well known for her TV spots and billboards on the state’s highways has filed a civil complaint seeking $350,000 from the law firm where she previously worked, alleging her photo was digitally altered and used to humiliate her in a group chat among the firm’s employees.
Brooke Goff filed the complaint last month in Hartford Superior Court against Eric Reinken of the Reinken Law Firm where Goff had previously worked as a paralegal and later as an attorney. In the complaint, Goff alleges that she was made aware of a group chat among the attorneys at the firm that she contends was used to humiliate her long after she left the firm in March 2016.
The complaint alleges that, in June 2025, an attorney with the Reinken firm sent a photo of Goff to the group chat and made derogatory comments about her. She alleges that Reinken, using the real photo, then had a digitally altered version made that depicted her in a sexual manner with an “unknown substance” on her face, the complaint alleges.
The messages that followed were derogatory and were intended to humiliate Goff, including some that were sexual in nature, the complaint alleges. In the complaint, she contends that the remarks were meant to ridicule and disparage her.
When Goff told Reinken that she had learned of the group chat, she alleges that he made no attempt to apologize or ask if she was OK and instead wanted to know who had contacted her about it, the complaint said.
Goff said Reinken later apologized to her in an email, according to court documents.
“Mr. Reinken’s opinion is that all of the claims against him in this matter are without merit,” a spokesperson for the Reinken Law Firm said Thursday, adding that they could not comment further because of the active litigation.
According to the complaint, the altered photo and comments that followed were “false and defamatory” and falsely portrayed Goff in matters concerning her “private personal life, sexual conduct and sexual orientation.”
“At no time did I authorize, consent to, or have knowledge of the creation or distribution of the altered photograph or the accompanying comment prior to the paralegal’s disclosure,” the complaint states. “The publication of the altered photograph and accompanying comment to Reinken’s employees subjected me to ridicule, contempt and humiliation.”
The complaint continued, “The altered photograph and accompanying comments placed me in a false light by creating a false and highly offensive impression of my character, conduct and personal life. As a licensed attorney, my professional reputation is of paramount importance to my career and livelihood.”
The complaint also contends that Reinken and his firm showed “deplorable and inexcusable conduct that is contrary to their ethical duties and professionalism that members of the Connecticut bar are expected to possess.”
Goff — who is well known in the state for highway billboards and TV ads often featuring celebrities — is seeking $350,000 through a prejudgment remedy.
Court records reviewed Thursday did not show an attorney as having filed an appearance on behalf of Reinken.
The attorney representing Goff did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.