diff --git a/courtroom.cpp b/courtroom.cpp
index 583716c..60f6baf 100644
--- a/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/courtroom.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Courtroom::Courtroom(AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QMainWindow()
 
   keepalive_timer = new QTimer(this);
   keepalive_timer->start(60000);
+  disconnect_timer = new QTimer(this);
+  disconnect_timer->setSingleShot(true);
 
   chat_tick_timer = new QTimer(this);
 
@@ -300,6 +302,8 @@ Courtroom::Courtroom(AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QMainWindow()
 
   connect(ui_spectator, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(on_spectator_clicked()));
 
+  connect(disconnect_timer, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(connection_timeout()));
+
   set_widgets();
 
   construct_evidence();
@@ -1323,7 +1327,7 @@ void Courtroom::chat_tick()
 
     QScrollBar *scroll = ui_vp_message->verticalScrollBar();
     scroll->setValue(scroll->maximum());
-    scroll->hide();
+    //scroll->hide();
 
     if (f_message.at(tick_pos) != ' ')
     {
@@ -1985,6 +1989,19 @@ void Courtroom::char_clicked(int n_char)
 void Courtroom::ping_server()
 {
   ao_app->send_server_packet(new AOPacket("CH#" + QString::number(m_cid) + "#%"));
+  disconnect_timer->start(10000);
+}
+
+void Courtroom::check_connection_received()
+{
+  disconnect_timer->stop();
+}
+
+void Courtroom::connection_timeout()
+{
+  call_notice("Disconnected from server.");
+  ao_app->construct_lobby();
+  ao_app->destruct_courtroom();
 }
 
 Courtroom::~Courtroom()
diff --git a/courtroom.h b/courtroom.h
index 04b24ea..551b54f 100644
--- a/courtroom.h
+++ b/courtroom.h
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ public:
   void handle_wtce(QString p_wtce);
   void set_hp_bar(int p_bar, int p_state);
 
+  void check_connection_received();
+
   ~Courtroom();
 
 private:
@@ -115,6 +117,9 @@ private:
   //triggers ping_server() every 60 seconds
   QTimer *keepalive_timer;
 
+  //how long we wait for the server to respond on a ping
+  QTimer *disconnect_timer;
+
   //determines how fast messages tick onto screen
   QTimer *chat_tick_timer;
   int chat_tick_interval = 60;
@@ -317,6 +322,8 @@ private:
   void construct_evidence();
   void set_evidence_page();
 
+
+
 public slots:
   void objection_done();
   void preanim_done();
@@ -406,6 +413,7 @@ private slots:
   void char_clicked(int n_char);
 
   void ping_server();
+  void connection_timeout();
 
 };
 
diff --git a/packet_distribution.cpp b/packet_distribution.cpp
index e5b2c63..956c4b3 100644
--- a/packet_distribution.cpp
+++ b/packet_distribution.cpp
@@ -520,9 +520,10 @@ void AOApplication::server_packet_received(AOPacket *p_packet)
     if (courtroom_constructed && f_contents.size() > 0)
       w_courtroom->mod_called(f_contents.at(0));
   }
-  else if (header == "checkconnection")
+  else if (header == "checkconnection" || header == "CHECK")
   {
-    send_server_packet(new AOPacket("CH#" + QString::number(w_courtroom->get_cid()) + "#%"));
+    if (courtroom_constructed)
+      w_courtroom->check_connection_received();
   }
 
   end:
diff --git a/text_file_functions.cpp b/text_file_functions.cpp
index eaf7f1c..6194d68 100644
--- a/text_file_functions.cpp
+++ b/text_file_functions.cpp
@@ -224,30 +224,27 @@ QString AOApplication::read_char_ini(QString p_char, QString p_search_line, QStr
 
   QTextStream in(&char_ini);
 
-  //because there are char inis that look like [eMoTIonS] for whatever reason
-  target_tag = target_tag.toLower();
-  terminator_tag = terminator_tag.toLower();
   bool tag_found = false;
 
   while(!in.atEnd())
   {
     QString line = in.readLine();
 
-    if (line.toLower().startsWith(terminator_tag))
+    if (QString::compare(line, terminator_tag, Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0)
       break;
 
-    if (line.toLower().startsWith(target_tag))
+    if (line.startsWith(target_tag, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
     {
       tag_found = true;
       continue;
     }
 
-    if (!line.startsWith(p_search_line))
+    if (!line.startsWith(p_search_line, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
       continue;
 
     QStringList line_elements = line.split("=");
 
-    if (line_elements.at(0).trimmed() != p_search_line)
+    if (QString::compare(line_elements.at(0).trimmed(), p_search_line, Qt::CaseInsensitive) != 0)
       continue;
 
     if (line_elements.size() < 2)