The 2024 edition of our research guide on Foreign Matrimonial, Custody, and Support Judgments in Connecticut has been added to our research guides web page.

• Posted in:
• FYI,
• Legal Research,
• Self-Help

AC46527 - Duso v. Groton (“On appeal, the defendant claims that the court (1) lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the declaratory judgment action because the plaintiffs lack standing and their claim is not ripe, (2) improperly denied the defendant’s motion to strike the complaint because the plaintiffs had failed to join a necessary party, (3) misinterpreted the language of a collective bargaining agreement, and (4) improperly awarded damages. The plaintiffs cross appeal from the judgment of the court denying their motion for sanctions. We affirm the judgment of the court.”)

• Posted in:
• Declaratory Judgment Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC46362 - Walencewicz v. Jealous Monk, LLC ("In this premises liability action, the defendant, Jealous Monk, LLC, appeals from the judgment of the trial court, rendered after a jury trial, in favor of the plaintiff, Noemi Walencewicz. On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly (1) denied the defendant's motions for a directed verdict and to set aside the verdict because the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence to support the jury's findings that the defendant had constructive notice of the specific defect and that the specific defect caused her injuries, and (2) refused to charge the jury on the definitions of negligence and reasonable care. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

• Posted in:
• Recent Opinions,
• Tort Law

AC46053 - State v. Daniels - (“The defendant, Patricia Daniels, appeals from the judgment of conviction, following a jury trial, of manslaughter in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-55 (a) (1) (intentional manslaughter). The defendant claims that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction and (2) the court committed instructional error in its jury instruction concerning the essential element of intent. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)

• Posted in:
• Criminal Law & Procedure,
• Recent Opinions

AC46407 - Brown v. Commissioner of Correction (“In this certified appeal, the petitioner claims that the court (1) erroneously found that no agreement existed between the state and certain witnesses in exchange for their testimony, (2) erroneously found that a bond modification for a witness who testified at the petitioner’s criminal trial did not constitute a benefit to that witness, and (3) improperly concluded that his due process rights were not violated by the state’s failure to correct misleading testimony. We affirm the judgment of the habeas court.”)

• Posted in:
• Habeas Corpus Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC46334 - Crossing Condominium Assn., Inc. v. Miller ("These related appeals brought by the self-represented defendant, Josephine S. Miller, concern two distinct foreclosure proceedings involving the same real property. In Docket No. AC 46334, the defendant appeals from the judgment of foreclosure by sale rendered by the trial court in favor of The Crossing Condominium Association, Inc. (association), claiming that the court abused its discretion in denying her motion to open and vacate that judgment. In Docket No. AC 46586, the defendant appeals from the judgment of foreclosure by sale rendered by the trial court in favor of the plaintiff, U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as trustee for LSF9 Master Participation Trust (bank), claiming that the court abused its discretion in so doing. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.")

• Posted in:
• Foreclosure Law,
• Recent Opinions

The regularly scheduled hours for the law libraries are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless noted below.

Thursday, September 26th

• Bridgeport Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
• Hartford Law Library closes at 2:45 p.m.
• Middletown Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.
• New Britain Law Library closes at 2:45 p.m.
• New Haven Law Library closes at 2:00 p.m.
• Putnam Law Library is closed.
• Rockville Law Library closes at 2:30 p.m.
• Stamford Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 1:15 p.m.
• Waterbury Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, September 27th

• Danbury Law Library is closed from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Rockville Law Library is closed from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

Monday, September 30th

• New Britain Law Library closes at 1:30 p.m.
• Putnam Law Library is closed.
• Rockville Law Library is closed.

Tuesday, October 1st

• Hartford Law Library is closed from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• New Britain Law Library is closed.
• New Haven Law Library is closed.
• Putnam Law Library is closed.
• Stamford Law Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday, October 2nd

• Danbury Law Library is closed.

Thursday, October 3rd

• Danbury Law Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Stamford Law Library is closed.

Friday, October 4th

• Danbury Law Library is closed.
• New Britain Law Library closes at 4:45 p.m.
• Stamford Law Library will be closed from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• Posted in:
• Library Notices

The 2024 edition of our research guide on Dog Law in Connecticut has been added to our research guides webpage.

• Posted in:
• FYI,
• Legal Research,
• Property Law,
• Self-Help

AC47325 - In re Jadiel B. ("The respondent father, Joel B.-R., appeals from the judgment of the trial court, rendered in favor of the petitioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families, terminating his parental rights with respect to his minor child, Jadiel B. (Jadiel). On appeal, the respondent claims that the trial court erred in determining that (1) the Department of Children and Families (department) had made reasonable efforts to reunify the respondent with Jadiel and (2) the respondent was unable or unwilling to benefit from services. The respondent also contends that General Statutes § 17a-112, as applied, violates the equal protection clauses of the federal and state constitutions. We affirm the judgment of the court.")

• Posted in:
• Juvenile Law,
• Recent Opinions

The Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research has recently published several new reports to their website including:

Municipal Immunity - 2024-R-0135 - Summarizes the statutes addressing civil liability immunity for municipalities and their employees and officers.

Protections Regarding Rent Increases - 2024-R-0143 - Addresses the protections that state law provides regarding rent increases for tenants, for seniors and for tenants with disabilities. This report updates OLR Report 2023-R-0247.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - 2024-R-0121 - Describes programs and resources Connecticut provides to grandparents raising grandchildren as well as additional measures other states have considered.

Connecticut's Animal Cruelty Laws and Other Animal Protection Laws - 2024-R-0141 - Summarizes Connecticut’s animal cruelty laws and other animal protection laws. This report updates and expands upon OLR Report 2019-R-0196.

Penalties for Car Theft and Hit-and-Run Crimes - 2024-R-0142 - Compares the penalties for car theft and hit-and-run (also known as evading responsibility or leaving the scene of an accident) in Connecticut and a selection of other states. This report focuses on penalties for adults and does not address penalties for juveniles.

Auto-Theft Diversionary Program and Recidivism - 2024-R-0137 - Provides (1) information on the juvenile auto-theft diversionary program and (2) any available data that shows the program’s impact on recidivism.

• Posted in:
• FYI,
• Legal Research,
• Self-Help

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXVI, No. 13, for September 24, 2024 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

• Table of Contents
• Volume 349: Connecticut Reports (Pages 695 - 733)
• Volume 349: Orders (Pages 920 - 922)
• Volume 349: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
• Volume 228: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 206 - 289)
• Volume 228: Memorandum Decisions (Pages 901 - 901)
• Volume 228: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
• Miscellaneous Notices
• Notices of Connecticut State Agencies

• Posted in:
• Connecticut Law Journal,
• Recent Opinions

AC46940 - Middletown v. Wagner ("In this animal welfare action, the self-represented defendant Justin Wagner appeals from the judgment of the trial court vesting ownership of the dogs seized from a barn leased by the defendant and Destiny Jennings, together with the puppies subsequently born to those dogs, in the plaintiff, the city of Middletown, after it found that the dogs were neglected. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the trial court erred when it denied the defendant's motion to return property and suppress evidence obtained pursuant to a warrantless search and seizure of the property, (2) General Statutes §§ 22-329a and 53-247, as applied to the defendant and Jennings, are void for vagueness, (3) the police did not provide Jennings with fair notice of the law, (4) the court did not apply the proper legal standard, and (5) there was insufficient evidence presented at the hearing to support a finding that the dogs in the barn were neglected. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

• Posted in:
• Property Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC46178 - Waterbury v. Brennan (“In this action for declaratory relief, the defendant Janet Brennan1 appeals from the judgment of the trial court rendered in favor of the plaintiff, the city of Waterbury (city). On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly denied her motion for summary judgment and, relatedly, that it improperly granted the motion for summary judgment filed by the city. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)

AC45467 - Brennan v. Waterbury (“The defendant, the city of Waterbury (city), appeals from the judgment of the Compensation Review Board (board), affirming in part the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner (commissioner) in favor of the plaintiff, Janet Brennan, the executrix of the estate of Thomas Brennan. On appeal, the city claims that the board improperly affirmed the commissioner’s conclusions that (1) the plaintiff’s entitlement to heart and hypertension benefits pursuant to General Statutes § 7-433c matured during the lifetime of the decedent, Thomas Brennan, (2) the plaintiff is entitled to statutory interest on § 7-433c benefits, and (3) the city unduly delayed payment on, and unreasonably contested, the decedent’s claim for § 7-433c benefits. In light of our resolution of the related appeal in Waterbury v. Brennan, 228 Conn. App. 206, A.3d (2024), which also was released today, we conclude that the present appeal is moot, as this court can provide the city no practical relief. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.”)

• Posted in:
• Recent Opinions,
• Workers' Compensation Law

AC 45535 - Ciarleglio v. Martin ("The defendant, Miriam Martin, appeals from the judgment of the trial court granting an annulment of her marriage to the decedent, Vincent Ciarleglio. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the plaintiff lacked standing to continue the annulment action after the decedent’s death, (2) the plaintiff’s action to annul the marriage following the death of the decedent constituted an impermissible collateral attack on a legally valid marriage, and (3) the court held the plaintiff to an incorrect burden of proof when it granted the annulment. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

• Posted in:
• Family Law,
• Recent Opinions

The regularly scheduled hours for the law libraries are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless noted below.

Thursday, September 19th

• New London Law Library is closed.
• Putnam Law Library closes at 4:00 p.m.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 3:15 p.m.

Friday, September 20th

• New London Law Library is closed.
• Putnam Law Library is closed.
• Torrington Law Library is open from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Monday, September 23rd

• Middletown Law Library closes at 2:00 p.m.
• Putnam Law Library is closed.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 3:45 p.m.

Tuesday, September 24th

• Putnam Law Library is closed.

Wednesday, September 25th

• Danbury Law Library is closed.
• Middletown Law Library is closed from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 26th

• Bridgeport Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
• Hartford Law Library closes at 2:45 p.m.
• Middletown Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.
• New Britain Law Library closes at 2:45 p.m.
• New Haven Law Library closes at 2:00 p.m.
• Putnam Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
• Rockville Law Library closes at 2:30 p.m.
• Stamford Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 1:15 p.m.
• Waterbury Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, September 27th

• Danbury Law Library is closed from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Rockville Law Library is closed from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Torrington Law Library closes at 1:00 p.m.

• Posted in:
• Library Notices

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXVI, No. 12, for September 17, 2024 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

• Table of Contents
• Volume 349: Connecticut Reports (Pages 513 - 695)
• Volume 349: Orders (Pages 919 - 920)
• Volume 349: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
• Volume 228: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 1 - 206)
• Volume 228: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
• Miscellaneous Notices
• Supreme Court Pending Cases

• Posted in:
• Connecticut Law Journal,
• Recent Opinions

AC46709 - White v. FCW Law Offices (“The plaintiff, Frank Charles White, appeals from the judgment of the trial court rendered in his favor against the defendants, FCW Law Offices and two John Does, following a hearing in damages on his civil action seeking damages for identity theft pursuant to General Statutes § 52-571h (b) and a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), General Statutes § 42-110a et seq. On appeal, the plaintiff claims that the court failed to comply with § 52-571h (b) when it did not award him treble damages under § 52-571h. We reverse in part the judgment of the trial court.”)

• Posted in:
• Business Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC45832 - Mystic Oil Co. v. Shaukat, LLC (“The defendants Shaukat, LLC (Shaukat), and Raja Shaukat Ali appeal from the judgment of the trial court rendered after a hearing in damages following the rendering of summary judgment as to liability only in favor of the plaintiff, Mystic Oil Company, Inc., with respect to its claims for breach of contract and breach of guarantee. Specifically, the defendants challenge on appeal (1) the court’s award of certain damages and (2) the court’s granting of the plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees and costs without an evidentiary hearing. We affirm in part and reverse in part the judgment of the trial court.”)

• Posted in:
• Contract Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC46014 - Hallock v. Hallock ("The defendant, Jennifer L. Hallock, appeals from the judgment of the trial court dissolving her marriage to the plaintiff, Timothy J. Hallock, and entering certain financial orders. On appeal, the defendant claims that the court (1) failed to properly consider her pendente lite motions for alimony and counsel fees, (2) applied an improper legal standard to her claim for alimony and the division of the marital property, (3) applied an improper legal standard to deny her claim for attorney's fees, (4) improperly took judicial notice of facts regarding her employment prospects and earning capacity, and (5) improperly discredited her testimony that the plaintiff's consumption of alcohol caused the marriage to end. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC46184 - Karen v. Loftus ("This marital dissolution matter, which requires the resolution of jurisdictional and merits related issues arising from the arbitration of a specific aspect of the parties' prenuptial agreement, returns to us for a second time. Following the dissolution of the parties' marriage, the plaintiff, Cindy L. Karen, has endeavored to open that judgment for the limited purpose of allowing discovery with respect to her claim that the arbitration award, which subsequently was incorporated into the dissolution judgment, was procured by fraud committed by the defendant, William P. Loftus. In this appeal, the plaintiff claims that the court improperly denied her motion to open the dissolution judgment for the limited purpose of conducting discovery after it concluded that she had failed to establish probable cause that the arbitration award pertaining to the financial ramifications of the defendant's departure from his employment with Merrill Lynch, and its subsequent incorporation into the dissolution judgment, was obtained by fraud. The defendant disagrees with the merits of the plaintiff's claim and, additionally, contends that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to consider the plaintiff's motion to open because her challenge to the arbitration award was not timely pursuant to General Statutes § 52-420 (b). We are not persuaded by the defendant's jurisdictional claim and agree with the plaintiff that the court improperly concluded that she had failed to establish probable cause as to her fraud claim. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment denying the plaintiff's motion to open and remand the matter for further proceedings.")

AC45809 - Labieniec v. Megna ("In this custody dispute, the defendant, Robert Megna, appeals from the judgment of the trial court granting a postjudgment motion to modify custody of the parties' minor child, C, filed by the plaintiff, Jennifer Labieniec, and from the denial of his postjudgment motion for a passport for C. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court improperly (1) denied his motion for order regarding a passport for C, and (2) modified the agreement of the parties as to C's primary residence for school purposes. We disagree with the defendant as to his first claim but agree with him on his second claim. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part the judgment of the trial court.")

• Posted in:
• Family Law,
• Recent Opinions

AC46008 - State v. Giannone (Sale of an assault weapon in violation of General Statutes § 53-202b (a) (1); possession of a silencer in violation of General Statutes § 53a-211; possession of a large capacity magazine in violation of General Statutes § 53-202w (c); “On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly denied his motion to dismiss the charges against him and his motion to suppress evidence seized by the police because the statutes under which he was convicted violate his right to bear arms under the second amendment to the United States constitution. In light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1, 142 S. Ct. 2111, 213 L. Ed. 2d 387 (2022), which was issued after the trial court denied the defendant’s motions but prior to his sentencing, we conclude that the judgments of the trial court must be reversed and the cases remanded for an evidentiary hearing on the defendant’s motions. In addition, we provide guidance to the trial court regarding how it should analyze the claims raised in the defendant’s motions under Bruen.”)

AC46501 - State v. Shane K. (Assault in the third degree; two counts of criminal violation of a protective; motion to dismiss or transfer for improper venue; “On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court improperly (1) denied his motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, to transfer the case for improper venue, asserting that the court incorrectly (a) concluded that the state constitution does not require a criminal defendant to be tried in the judicial district where the charged offense occurred and (b) applied General Statutes § 51-352c (a) and (b), and (2) failed to instruct the jury on venue. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)

• Posted in:
• Criminal Law & Procedure,
• Recent Opinions