The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.

New Laws on Selected Topics

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5139

The Office of Legislative Research has a web page with reports summarizing new laws on selected topics. Below are links to the 2022 reports:


Criminal Law Supreme Court Opinion

   by Townsend, Karen

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5136

SC20555 - State vs. Hinds (Conviction of murder, carrying a dangerous weapon; “Following a jury trial, the defendant, Metese Hinds, was convicted of murder in violation of General Statutes § 53a-54a (a) and carrying a dangerous weapon in violation of General Statutes § 53-206 (a). On appeal, he claims that two instances of prosecutorial impropriety, which occurred during the state’s closing and rebuttal arguments, deprived him of his due process right to a fair trial. We disagree and affirm the judgment of conviction.”)


Connecticut Law Journal - August 30, 2022

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5137

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXIV, No. 9, for August 30, 2022 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

  • Table of Contents
  • Volume 344: Connecticut Reports (Pages 464 - 565)
  • Volume 344: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
  • Volume 214: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 604 - 786)
  • Volume 214: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
  • Supreme Court Pending Cases
  • Notices of Connecticut State Agencies


Law Library Hours - 8/25/22 - 9/2/22

   by Dowd, Jeffrey

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5125

Tuesday, August 30th

  • Bridgeport Law Library is closes at 2:00 p.m.
  • Rockville Law Library closes from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library is closes at 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 31st

  • Torrington Law Library is closed.

Thursday, September 1st

  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Torrington Law Library opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 3:30 p.m.
  • Waterbury Law Library closes at 2:00 p.m.

Friday, September 2nd

  • Danbury Law Library is closed.
  • Putnam Law Library closes at 12:15 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.


Criminal Law Supreme Court Opinion

   by Townsend, Karen

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5135

SC20554 - State v. Freeman (“The sole issue on appeal is whether the prosecution of the defendant was time barred by the five year statute of limitations set forth in General Statutes (Rev. to 2017) § 54-193 (b)1 on the ground that the state failed to establish that the warrant for the defendant’s arrest was executed without unreasonable delay. See State v. Swebilius, 325 Conn. 793, 802, 159 A.3d 1099 (2017); State v. Crawford, 202 Conn. 443, 451, 521 A.2d 1034 (1987). We conclude that the state failed to produce sufficient evidence to establish that the arrest warrant was executed with due diligence, and, accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Appellate Court.”)


Contract Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Oumano, Emily

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5133

AC44537 - Konover Development Corp. v. Waterbury Omega, LLC (“The defendant Waterbury Omega, LLC appeals from the judgment of the trial court granting the application for a prejudgment remedy in favor of the plaintiff, Konover Development Corporation, upon a finding of probable cause that the defendant had breached an oral agreement for the plaintiff's procurement, management and accounting of building/rooftop wireless telecommunications agreements on behalf of the defendant. On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly concluded that the plaintiff had established probable cause in light of its defenses that enforcement of the oral agreement was barred by (1) General Statutes § 20-325a, (2) the rule against perpetuities, and (3) the statute of frauds. We affirm the judgment of the court.”)


Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Oumano, Emily

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5134

AC44427 - State v. Sweet (“The defendant, Derek R. Sweet, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of one count of larceny in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-124 (a) (2), and one count of identity theft in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-129d (a).On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) there was insufficient evidence to sustain the jury's verdict of guilty of larceny in the third degree and (2) the court erred in admitting certain hearsay evidence.We disagree and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of conviction.”)


Property Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Zigadto, Janet

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5131

AC44622 - Fairlake Capital, LLC v. Lathouris ("The defendant Number Six, LLC (Number Six), appeals from the order of the trial court denying its motion to discharge a notice of lis pendens (motion to discharge) recorded by the plaintiff, Fairlake Capital, LLC. Number Six also appeals from the order of the court denying its motion to lift a discretionary stay in the underlying proceedings to allow it to pursue the motion to discharge. Our disposition of this appeal hinges on two issues that concern the denial of the motion to discharge. First, as a threshold matter implicating our subject matter jurisdiction, we must determine whether the denial of the motion to discharge is a final judgment for appeal purposes. If we answer that question in the affirmative, the second issue is whether the court abused its discretion by denying the motion to discharge, without holding a hearing and adjudicating the merits of the motion in accordance with General Statutes §§ 52-325a and 52-325b, solely on the procedural ground that the discretionary stay was in place. Number Six claims that the denial of the motion to discharge is a final judgment and that the court improperly denied the motion to discharge on the basis of the discretionary stay. The plaintiff, on the other hand, maintains that (1) no final judgment exists, or, alternatively, (2) the court properly denied the motion to discharge on the basis of the discretionary stay. We conclude that (1) the denial of the motion to discharge is a final judgment for appeal purposes and (2) the court abused its discretion when it relied on the discretionary stay to deny Number Six's motion to discharge. We further conclude that our resolution of Number Six's claim concerning its motion to discharge necessarily resolves the question of whether the court should have lifted the discretionary stay to permit a hearing on that motion. . . .

The judgment is reversed as to the denial of Number Six's motion to discharge the notice of lis pendens and the case is remanded with direction to lift the discretionary stay for the purpose of holding a prompt hearing and adjudicating the merits of the motion to discharge in accordance with General Statutes §§ 52-325a and 52-325b and consistent with this opinion.")

  • AC44622 Concurrence - Fairlake Capital, LLC v. Lathouris


Foreclosure Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Zigadto, Janet

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5132

AC44564 - Lending Home Funding Corp. v. REI Holdings, LLC ("The defendant Traditions Oil Group, LLC, appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying its motion to reargue/reconsider the court's denial of its motion to open the judgment of strict foreclosure rendered in favor of the plaintiff, Lending Home Funding Corporation. On appeal, the defendant claims that the court incorrectly determined that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to open the judgment of strict foreclosure on the ground that title already had vested in the plaintiff, thereby rendering the defendant's motion to open moot. We agree with the defendant and, accordingly, reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the matter for further proceedings.")


Landlord/Tenant Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Zigadto, Janet

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5130

AC42832 - Mention v. Kensington Square Apartments (Housing code enforcement; "In this housing code enforcement action, the defendant, Kensington Square Apartments, appeals from the judgment of the trial court rendered in favor of the plaintiff, Regina Mention. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to consider evidence in support of the plaintiff's claim that predated the filing of her complaint with the New Haven Livable City Initiative (Initiative), (2) the court improperly concluded as a matter of law that the defendant violated title V of the New Haven Code of Ordinances (housing code), and (3) the housing code is unconstitutionally vague. The plaintiff also challenges the judgment of the trial court, by way of a cross appeal, claiming that the court erred in calculating rent abatement based on her share of the subsidized rent, rather than the full market rent. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")



Tort Law Supreme Court Opinion

   by Booth, George

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5129

SC20498 - Daley v. Kashmanian (Torts; General Statutes § 52-557n; Whether defendant entitled to governmental immunity for negligent operation of motor vehicle in course of conducting surveillance; "The sole issue in this certified appeal is whether a police officer who was involved in a crash while using an automobile to perform surveillance during an investigation of possible criminal activity was engaged in a discretionary act for purposes of governmental immunity under the common law or General Statutes § 52-557n (a) (2) (B). The plaintiff, Devonte Daley, appeals, upon our grant of his petition for certification, from the judgment of the Appellate Court reversing in part the judgment of the trial court, rendered in favor of the plaintiff after a jury trial, in this personal injury action against the defendants, Zachary Kashmanian, a police officer, and his employer, the city of Hartford (city). See Daley v. Kashmanian, 193 Conn. App. 171, 190, 219 A.3d 499 (2019). On appeal, the plaintiff contends that the Appellate Court incorrectly concluded that Kashmanian's actions during his surveillance of the plaintiff using a "soft car," which is an unmarked vehicle lacking police equipment, were discretionary acts for purposes of governmental immunity. We conclude that Kashmanian's operation of the soft car, including following the statutory rules of the road; see General Statutes § 14-212 et seq.; was a ministerial function and that the defendants, therefore, were not entitled to discretionary act immunity for Kashmanian's negligent operation of the soft car during the surveillance operation. Accordingly, we reverse in part the judgment of the Appellate Court.")



Juvenile Law Appellate Court Slip Opinion

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5126

AC45058 - In re Delilah G. ("The respondent mother, Amanda L., appeals from the judgment of the trial court granting the petition of the petitioner father, Juan G., to terminate her parental rights with respect to her minor daughter, Delilah G. On appeal, the respondent claims that the court improperly determined that (1) there was no ongoing parent-child relationship between her and Delilah pursuant to General Statutes § 45a-717 (g) (2) (C) and (2) she had abandoned Delilah pursuant to § 45a-717 (g) (2) (A). We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")


Law Library Hours - 8/19/22 - 8/26/22

   by Dowd, Jeffrey

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5117

Wednesday, August 24th

  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • Middletown Law Library closes at 4:15 p.m.
  • New London Law Library closes at 3:00 p.m.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.
  • Waterbury Law Library closes at 12:15 p.m.

Thursday, August 25th

  • Middletown Law Library is closed.
  • New London Law Library is opens at 12:30 p.m.
  • Putnam Law Library is closed.
  • Rockville Law Library opens at 11:00 a.m.
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.

Friday, August 26th

  • Danbury Law Library is closed.
  • Hartford Law Library is closed.
  • Middletown Law Library is closed.
  • New Britain Law Library opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m.
  • Putnam Law Library opens at 9:15 a.m. and closes at 3:45 p.m.
  • Torrington Law Library is closed.


Connecticut Law Journal - August 23, 2022

   by Roy, Christopher

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5124

The Connecticut Law Journal, Volume LXXXIV, No. 8, for August 23, 2022 is now available.

Contained in the issue is the following:

  • Table of Contents
  • Volume 344: Connecticut Reports (Pages 404 - 464)
  • Volume 344: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Reports
  • Volume 214: Connecticut Appellate Reports (Pages 468 - 603)
  • Volume 214: Cumulative Table of Cases Connecticut Appellate Reports
  • Miscellaneous Notices
  • Notices of Connecticut State Agencies


Criminal Law Supreme Court Opinion

   by Booth, George

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5123

SC20550 - State v. Schimanski (Whether Appellate Court properly upheld trial court's denial of defendant's motion to dismiss charge of operating motor vehicle with suspended license under General Statutes § 14-215 (c) (1); "The defendant, Anastasia Schimanski, appeals from the judgment of the Appellate Court upholding the trial court's denial of the defendant's motion to dismiss the charge of operating a motor vehicle while her license was under suspension in violation of General Statutes § 14-215 (c) (1). The defendant claims that the Appellate Court incorrectly determined that the forty-five day license suspension period imposed by General Statutes (Rev. to 2017) § 14-227b (i) (1) on persons who refuse to submit to a chemical analysis of their blood, breath, or urine, as required by § 14-227b (b), does not terminate upon the expiration of the forty-five days specified in the statute but, rather, continues indefinitely until such time as the persons subject to the suspension install an ignition interlock device (IID) on their vehicles. The defendant contends that, because the conduct underlying her conviction occurred after the expiration of the forty-five day suspension period authorized by § 14-227b (i) (1), the state could not lawfully charge her pursuant to § 14-215 (c) (1). We agree with the defendant and, accordingly, reverse in part the judgment of the Appellate Court.")


Business Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Oumano, Emily

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5118

AC44586 - Deutsche Bank AG v. Vik (“The defendants, Alexander Vik (Alexander) and Caroline Vik (Caroline), appeal from the judgment of the trial court denying their motion to dismiss, in which they asserted that the claims brought by the plaintiff, Deutsche Bank AG, were barred by the litigation privilege. On appeal, the defendants claim that the court improperly concluded that the litigation privilege does not bar the plaintiff's claims of tortious interference with business expectancy and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), General Statutes § 42-110a et seq. We agree and, accordingly, reverse the judgment of the trial court.”)


Probate Law Appellate Court Opinion

   by Oumano, Emily

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5119

AC43983 - In re Probate Appeal of Harris (“The plaintiff, Richard Harris, appeals from the judgment of the Superior Court denying his appeal from a decree of the Newington Probate Court admitting the will of his mother, Freida Harris (decedent), to probate upon the application of the defendant Dora-Lynn Harris. On appeal, the plaintiff claims that the court erred in concluding that the will was validly attested by two witnesses as required by General Statutes § 45a-251. We disagree and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the Superior Court.”)


Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinions

   by Townsend, Karen

 https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/LawLibNews/Posts/Post.aspx?Id=5121

AC44630 - State v. Gonzalez (“On appeal, the defendant claims that the court improperly determined that No. 18-63, § 2, of the 2018 Public Acts (P.A. 18-63), which amended General Statutes (Rev. to 2017) § 54-125e (b) to require that a trial court determine that a period of special parole is necessary to ensure public safety before imposing a period of special parole, did not retroactively apply to his 2017 sentence. See General Statutes § 54-125e (b) (1). Specifically, the defendant claims that (1) § 54-125e, as amended by § 2 of P.A. 18-63, is a procedural statute presumed to apply retroactively, and (2) the legislature, through passing § 2 of P.A. 18-63, intended to clarify § 54-125e, rather than change the law. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.”)

AC44806 - State v. Turner (“On appeal, the defendant claims (1) that the court erred in dismissing his motion to correct an illegal sentence, in which he alleged that the sentencing court made materially false assumptions about his potential for rehabilitation, for failure to state a colorable claim, and (2) he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to present expert testimony on juvenile brain science in support of his motion to correct. We agree with the defendant’s contention that the court improperly dismissed his motion to correct on the ground that he failed to state a colorable claim but, nevertheless, conclude that the defendant was not entitled to a new sentencing hearing on the basis of the ground alleged in his motion. Additionally, we disagree with the defendant’s assertion that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing. Accordingly, the form of the trial court’s judgment is improper in that the court should have denied, rather than dismissed, the defendant’s motion to correct an illegal sentence.”)