Table of Contents Secs. 52-573 and 52-574. Limitation on contracts under seal. Actions on
agreements to sell real estate. Sections 52-573 and 52-574 are repealed. Sec. 52-575. Entry upon land to be made within fifteen years. (a) No person
shall make entry into any lands or tenements but within fifteen years next after his right
or title to the same first descends or accrues or within fifteen years next after such person
or persons have been ousted from possession of such land or tenements; and every
person, not entering as aforesaid, and his heirs, shall be utterly disabled to make such
entry afterwards; and no such entry shall be sufficient, unless within such fifteen-year
period, any person or persons claiming ownership of such lands and tenements and the
right of entry and possession thereof against any person or persons who are in actual
possession of such lands or tenements, gives notice in writing to the person or persons
in possession of the land or tenements of the intention of the person giving the notice
to dispute the right of possession of the person or persons to whom such notice is given
and to prevent the other party or parties from acquiring such right, and the notice being
served and recorded as provided in sections 47-39 and 47-40 shall be deemed an interruption of the use and possession and shall prevent the acquiring of a right thereto by the
continuance of the use and possession for any length of time thereafter, provided an
action is commenced thereupon within one year next after the recording of such notice.
The limitation herein prescribed shall not begin to run against the right of entry of any
owner of a remainder or reversionary interest in real estate, which is in the adverse
possession of another, until the expiration of the particular estate preceding such remainder or reversionary estate. Sec. 52-575a. Action to enforce recorded private restrictions or notations on
maps. No action or any other type of court proceeding shall be brought to enforce a
private restriction recorded in the land records of the municipality in which the property
is located or a notation on a filed map pertaining to the use of privately owned land, the
type of structures that may be erected thereon or the location of same unless such action
or proceeding shall be commenced within three years of the time that the person seeking
to enforce such restriction had actual or constructive knowledge of such violation. This
section shall be deemed not to apply to any private restriction or notation pertaining to
(a) any public utility easement; (b) any right-of-way; (c) any park or open space land;
(d) any private driveway, roadway or street, or (e) any sewer line or water line. Sec. 52-576. Actions for account or on simple or implied contracts. (a) No action for an account, or on any simple or implied contract, or on any contract in writing,
shall be brought but within six years after the right of action accrues, except as provided
in subsection (b) of this section. Sec. 52-577. Action founded upon a tort. No action founded upon a tort shall be
brought but within three years from the date of the act or omission complained of. Sec. 52-577a. Limitation of action based on product liability claim. (a) No product liability claim as defined in section 52-572m shall be brought but within three years
from the date when the injury, death or property damage is first sustained or discovered
or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered except that, subject
to subsections (c), (d) and (e), no such action may be brought against any party nor may
any party be impleaded pursuant to subsection (b) later than ten years from the date that
the party last parted with possession or control of the product. Sec. 52-577b. Limitation of action for damages caused by contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 52-577 and
52-577a, an action to recover damages for personal injury caused by contact with or
exposure to phenoxy herbicides while serving as a member of the armed forces of the
United States in Indo-China from January 1, 1962, through March 29, 1973, may be
commenced within two years from the date of discovery of such injury, or within two
years from the date when, through the exercise of reasonable diligence, the cause of
such injury should have been discovered, whichever is later. Sec. 52-577c. Limitation of action for damages caused by exposure to a hazardous chemical substance or mixture or hazardous pollutant. (a) For the purposes
of this section: (1) "Environment" means any surface water, ground water, drinking
water supply, land surface or subsurface strata or ambient air within the state or under
the jurisdiction of the state; (2) "exposure" means any contact, ingestion, inhalation or
assimilation, including irradiation; (3) "hazardous chemical substance or mixture"
means petroleum, a petroleum product or any chemical substance or mixture for which
there is a federal standard, including any law, requirement, tolerance, prohibition, action
level or similar legal authority adopted by an agency pursuant to federal law, including
any such standard or legal authority adopted by a state or local government pursuant to
federal law, generally intended to prevent, reduce or mitigate the risk of a disease or
class or type of diseases to an individual or individuals resulting from exposure to such
chemical substance or mixture; (4) "hazardous pollutant" means any designated, specified or referenced chemical considered to be a "hazardous substance" under Section
101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act, 42 USC 9601 (14); (5) "release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing
into the environment. Sec. 52-577d. Limitation of action for damages to minor caused by sexual
abuse, exploitation or assault. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 52-577, no
action to recover damages for personal injury to a minor, including emotional distress,
caused by sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or sexual assault may be brought by such
person later than seventeen years from the date such person attains the age of majority. Secs. 52-577e to 52-577o. Reserved for future use. Sec. 52-577p. Transferred to Chapter 925, Sec. 52-557p. Sec. 52-578. Limitation of action for damages caused by change of grade of
highway. No action shall be brought by the owner of land adjoining a public highway,
or of any interest in such land, for recovery of special damage to such property or interest
by reason of any change in the grade of such highway, or by reason of excavations in
such highway made in the process of repairing the same by the town, city or borough
in which such highway is situated, except within six years next after the right of action
accrues. Sec. 52-579. Limitation of suit on probate bond; exception. No action shall be
maintained against the surety on any probate bond unless brought within six years from
the final settlement of account of the principal in such bond and the acceptance of such
account by the Court of Probate; but this provision shall not apply to minors who are
parties in interest. Sec. 52-580. Settlement of partnership or joint accounts. In any case of partnership or of joint occupancy of real or personal property, the court before which any action
for the settlement or adjustment of the partnership or joint account is pending shall take
into consideration, in making the settlement, all the partnership or joint transactions
since the time of the last settlement, although more than six years may have elapsed
since the last settlement. Sec. 52-581. Action on oral contract to be brought within three years. (a) No
action founded upon any express contract or agreement which is not reduced to writing,
or of which some note or memorandum is not made in writing and signed by the party
to be charged therewith or his agent, shall be brought but within three years after the
right of action accrues. Sec. 52-582. Petition for new trial. No petition for a new trial in any civil or
criminal proceeding shall be brought but within three years next after the rendition of
the judgment or decree complained of, except that a petition based on DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) evidence that was not discoverable or available at the time of the original
trial may be brought at any time after the discovery or availability of such new evidence. Sec. 52-583. Actions against sheriff or constable for default limited to two
years. No civil action shall be brought against any sheriff, sheriff's deputy or constable,
for any neglect or default in his office or duty, but within two years next after the right
of action accrues. Sec. 52-584. Limitation of action for injury to person or property. No action
to recover damages for injury to the person, or to real or personal property, caused by
negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, or by malpractice of a physician,
surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, hospital or sanatorium, shall be brought but
within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the
exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered, and except that no such action
may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission complained
of, except that a counterclaim may be interposed in any such action any time before the
pleadings in such action are finally closed. Sec. 52-584a. Limitation of action against architect, professional engineer or
land surveyor. (a) No action or arbitration, whether in contract, in tort, or otherwise,
(1) to recover damages (A) for any deficiency in the design, planning, contract administration, supervision, observation of construction or construction of, or land surveying
in connection with, an improvement to real property; (B) for injury to property, real or
personal, arising out of any such deficiency; (C) for injury to the person or for wrongful
death arising out of any such deficiency, or (2) for contribution or indemnity which is
brought as a result of any such claim for damages shall be brought against any architect,
professional engineer or land surveyor performing or furnishing the design, planning,
supervision, observation of construction or construction of, or land surveying in connection with, such improvement more than seven years after substantial completion of such
improvement. Sec. 52-584b. Limitation of actions against attorneys in connection with title
certificates or opinions and title searches. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, no action, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, against an attorney to
recover for injury caused by negligence or by reckless or wanton misconduct in the
preparation of and the execution and delivery of an attorney's title certificate or opinion,
or the title search in connection therewith, shall be brought but within two years from
the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable
care should have been discovered, except that no such action may be brought more than
ten years from the date of such delivery. A counterclaim may be interposed in any such
action any time before the pleadings in such action are finally closed. Sec. 52-585. Suit for forfeiture on penal statute limited to one year. No suit for
any forfeiture upon any penal statute shall be brought but within one year next after the
commission of the offense. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any civil
action brought by the state or a municipality, or any officer or agent thereof, to recover
a forfeiture or civil penalty. Sec. 52-586. Scire facias against garnishee limited to one year. No writ of scire
facias against any garnishee shall be brought but within one year next after the right of
bringing it accrues. Sec. 52-587. Suit on bond or recognizance for costs limited to one year. No
action shall be brought against the surety on any bond or recognizance for costs only,
given in any civil action, or on the appeal of any civil cause, or on any bail bond, except
within one year after final judgment has been rendered in the suit in which such bond
or recognizance was given. Sec. 52-588. Suit on note obtained by fraud. No action shall be brought on a
negotiable note, if the holder thereof has been notified in writing by the maker thereof,
or his attorney or agent, that such note was obtained of the maker in pursuance of a
conspiracy, or of a general intent to defraud, unless the same is brought within one year
after such notice was given, or six months after such note became due; nor shall any
claim on such note be maintained against the estate of any deceased person or insolvent
debtor, unless such claim is presented within the time above specified after notice as
aforesaid. If any such note is negotiated after it is due, the provisions of this section
shall be held to apply to any action or proceeding founded upon such note in as full a
manner as if the plaintiff had been the holder of such note at the time when such notice
was given. Sec. 52-589. Action of forcible entry and detainer limited to six months. No
complaint for a forcible entry and detainer shall be brought but within six months after
the entry complained of. Sec. 52-590. When defendant's absence from state to be excluded. In computing the time limited in the period of limitation prescribed under any provision of chapter
925 or this chapter, the time during which the party, against whom there may be any
such cause of action, is without this state shall be excluded from the computation, except
that the time so excluded shall not exceed seven years. Sec. 52-591. When new action may be brought after time limited. When a judgment in favor of a plaintiff suing in a representative character, or for the benefit of third
persons, has been reversed, on the ground of a mistake in the complaint or in the proper
parties thereto, and, while the action was pending, the time for bringing a new action
has expired, the parties for whose special benefit the action was brought may commence
a new action in their individual names at any time within one year after the reversal of
the judgment, if the original action could have been so brought. Sec. 52-592. Accidental failure of suit; allowance of new action. (a) If any action,
commenced within the time limited by law, has failed one or more times to be tried on
its merits because of insufficient service or return of the writ due to unavoidable accident
or the default or neglect of the officer to whom it was committed, or because the action
has been dismissed for want of jurisdiction, or the action has been otherwise avoided
or defeated by the death of a party or for any matter of form; or if, in any such action
after a verdict for the plaintiff, the judgment has been set aside, or if a judgment of
nonsuit has been rendered or a judgment for the plaintiff reversed, the plaintiff, or, if
the plaintiff is dead and the action by law survives, his executor or administrator, may
commence a new action, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, for the
same cause at any time within one year after the determination of the original action or
after the reversal of the judgment. Sec. 52-593. Action against wrong defendant; allowance of new action. When
a plaintiff in any civil action has failed to obtain judgment by reason of failure to name
the right person as defendant therein, the plaintiff may bring a new action and the statute
of limitations shall not be a bar thereto if service of process in the new action is made
within one year after the termination of the original action. If service of process in the
original action has been made upon an agent of the defendant named in the new action,
or if the defendant in the new action is a corporation and service in the original action
has been made upon an officer or agent of the corporation, notice of any claim for
damage shall be sufficient if given in the original action, pursuant to statutory provisions,
to any officer or agent of the defendant in the new action. Sec. 52-593a. Right of action not lost where process served after statutory period. When. (a) Except in the case of an appeal from an administrative agency governed
by section 4-183, a cause or right of action shall not be lost because of the passage of
the time limited by law within which the action may be brought, if the process to be
served is personally delivered to a state marshal authorized to serve the process and the
process is served, as provided by law, within fifteen days of the delivery. Sec. 52-594. Limit for executor or administrator to bring personal action that
survives. If the time limited for the commencement of any personal action, which by
law survives to the representatives of a deceased person, has not elapsed at the time of
the person's death, one year from the date of death shall be allowed to his executor or
administrator to institute an action therefor. In computing the times limited in this chapter, one year shall be excluded from the computation in actions covered by the provisions
of this section. Sec. 52-595. Fraudulent concealment of cause of action. If any person, liable to
an action by another, fraudulently conceals from him the existence of the cause of such
action, such cause of action shall be deemed to accrue against such person so liable
therefor at the time when the person entitled to sue thereon first discovers its existence. Sec. 52-596. Actions for payment of remuneration for employment. No action
for the payment of remuneration for employment payable periodically shall be brought
but within two years after the right of action accrues, except that this limitation shall be
tolled upon the filing with the Labor Commissioner of a complaint of failure to pay
wages pursuant to the provisions of chapter 558. Sec. 52-597. Action for libel or slander. No action for libel or slander shall be
brought but within two years from the date of the act complained of. Sec. 52-598. Execution or action upon judgment for money damages. (a) No
execution to enforce a judgment for money damages rendered in any court of this state
may be issued after the expiration of twenty years from the date the judgment was entered
and no action based upon such a judgment may be instituted after the expiration of
twenty-five years from the date the judgment was entered.
Secs. 52-573 and 52-574. Limitation on contracts under seal. Actions on agreements to
sell real estate.
Sec. 52-575. Entry upon land to be made within fifteen years.
Sec. 52-575a. Action to enforce recorded private restrictions or notations on maps.
Sec. 52-576. Actions for account or on simple or implied contracts.
Sec. 52-577. Action founded upon a tort.
Sec. 52-577a. Limitation of action based on product liability claim.
Sec. 52-577b. Limitation of action for damages caused by contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides.
Sec. 52-577c. Limitation of action for damages caused by exposure to a hazardous chemical
substance or mixture or hazardous pollutant.
Sec. 52-577d. Limitation of action for damages to minor caused by sexual abuse, exploitation or assault.
Secs. 52-577e to 52-577o.
Sec. 52-577p.
Sec. 52-578. Limitation of action for damages caused by change of grade of highway.
Sec. 52-579. Limitation of suit on probate bond; exception.
Sec. 52-580. Settlement of partnership or joint accounts.
Sec. 52-581. Action on oral contract to be brought within three years.
Sec. 52-582. Petition for new trial.
Sec. 52-583. Actions against sheriff or constable for default limited to two years.
Sec. 52-584. Limitation of action for injury to person or property.
Sec. 52-584a. Limitation of action against architect, professional engineer or land surveyor.
Sec. 52-584b. Limitation of actions against attorneys in connection with title certificates or opinions and title searches.
Sec. 52-585. Suit for forfeiture on penal statute limited to one year.
Sec. 52-586. Scire facias against garnishee limited to one year.
Sec. 52-587. Suit on bond or recognizance for costs limited to one year.
Sec. 52-588. Suit on note obtained by fraud.
Sec. 52-589. Action of forcible entry and detainer limited to six months.
Sec. 52-590. When defendant's absence from state to be excluded.
Sec. 52-591. When new action may be brought after time limited.
Sec. 52-592. Accidental failure of suit; allowance of new action.
Sec. 52-593. Action against wrong defendant; allowance of new action.
Sec. 52-593a. Right of action not lost where process served after statutory period. When.
Sec. 52-594. Limit for executor or administrator to bring personal action that survives.
Sec. 52-595. Fraudulent concealment of cause of action.
Sec. 52-596. Actions for payment of remuneration for employment.
Sec. 52-597. Action for libel or slander.
Sec. 52-598. Execution or action upon judgment for money damages.
Sec. 52-598a. Limitation of action for indemnification.
(1949 Rev., S. 8313; 1949, S. 3232d; 1959, P.A. 574, S. 7; February, 1965, P.A. 401, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 18, S. 2.)
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(b) If any person who has such right or title of entry into any lands or tenements is,
at the time of the first descending or accruing of such right or title, a minor, non compos
mentis or imprisoned, he and his heirs may, notwithstanding the expiration of such
fifteen years, make such entry and serve and record such notice at any time within five
years next after full age, coming of sound mind or release from prison, or his heirs shall,
within five years after his death, make such entry and serve and record such notice, and
take benefit of the same.
(1949 Rev., S. 8314; P.A. 96-249, S. 13, 14.)
History: P.A. 96-249 divided section into Subsecs. and in Subsec. (a) added provision re interruption of possession,
effective June 6, 1996.
See Secs. 47-26, 47-27 re title by adverse possession by or against railroad and railway companies and formerly canal
companies.
This section is substantially copied from the English statute, 21 Jac. 1, Chap. 6, Sec. 1, except that it reduces the time
for reentry from twenty to fifteen years. History of statute. 75 C. 533. Right of entry does not accrue to, nor statute begin
to run against, the heirs of a femme covert, during the life of her husband, if tenant by the curtesy. 3 C. 193; 5 C. 235, 236;
29 C. 136; see 1 R. 547. In barring rights of entry, actions of ejectment are barred; 2 R. 512; and also bills to redeem a
mortgage. 2 R. 512. If one of the several tenants, who are disseized, is within the statutory exceptions, it does not avail the
others. 4 D. 273; 4 D. 466; 5 D. 218. Disabilities accruing after right of entry accrues are not within the exceptions. 2 C.
27. The five years, allowed in case of disability, may sometimes be part of the fifteen years. 3 C. 244. Statute runs against
private right of owner of land within an alleged highway. 50 C. 213, 214. A statute of limitation does not run against the
state. 56 C. 517. Statute begins to run when owner is in fact disseized whether under a disability or not, but additional time
is allowed after removal of disability. 74 C. 111, 112. Right to redeem a mortgage barred when. 76 C. 146; id., 227; 81 C.
442; 84 C. 56. Applied by analogy to right of administrator to sell land under order of court. 7 Wheat. 59. This section will
ordinarily be followed (by analogy) in foreclosure actions. 131 C. 39. Cited. 112 C. 368; 132 C. 622. Cited. 182 C. 272,
291. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
Adverse possession. Rules strictly construed. 29 C. 398. Gives fee simple after fifteen years, unless one of exceptions
of statute apply. 5 C. 298; 14 C. 290; 19 C. 475. Constructive possession will not satisfy the requirement of actual possession;
8 C. 443; as where it is by license; 5 D. 187; 38 C. 520; or under a contract. 1 R. 245. As between husband and wife; 76
C. 223; mortgagor and mortgagee; 47 C. 496; 76 C. 146; id., 223; principal and agent; 77 C. 578; life tenant and reversioner;
70 C. 349; 76 C. 595; one entitled to dower, to whom it is not assigned, and heirs. 90 C. 133. Disability from infancy. 74
C. 111. Does not run against the state; 56 C. 517; but that state has claim to land of no consequence between individual
claimants; 95 C. 619; nor against assessment lien; 79 C. 38; nor against public, but public may abandon right; 73 C. 581;
and the same rule applies to railroad right-of-way. 86 C. 275. Necessary elements. 74 C. 107; 84 C. 569; 101 C. 412; 104
C. 605; 105 C. 355; 119 C. 287; 137 C. 40; 142 C. 398; 148 C. 158. If title of another is recognized, possession no longer
adverse. 81 C. 547. Adverse user is use as one's own. 83 C. 627. Possession under belief that one is owner may suffice.
81 C. 133. No necessity of claiming title. 74 C. 111; 84 C. 569; 108 C. 5. Presumption of knowledge by owner from
possession. 74 C. 107; 82 C. 437. Mere exclusive possession not enough. 78 C. 128; see 75 C. 522; 82 C. 653. When
possession under oral gift is sufficient; 13 C. 235; 21 C. 416; 39 C. 96; 103 C. 354; effect of deed subsequently given,
conveying less than fee. 81 C. 539; 83 C. 360. Possession under void deed; 3 C. 246; 35 C. 437; 39 C. 97; 90 C. 241; effect
of terms of deed. 81 C. 546. Possession under oral exchange. 82 C. 437. As applied to cornice jutting over land; 75 C. 663;
78 C. 405; to division wall. 79 C. 457. Occupation and use of land as evidence; 74 C. 107; 77 C. 28; 85 C. 159; erection
of building, fence or wall; 69 C. 15; 71 C. 254; 86 C. 545; 88 C. 688; 109 C. 452; payment of taxes; 80 C. 338; color of
title; ancient deeds. 71 C. 555; 88 C. 521. Accepting lease as rebutting claim of adverse user. 79 C. 493. Tacking together
rights of successive disseizors; 3 D. 259; 31 C. 531; but they must be in same chain of title. 86 C. 699. A casual or stealthy
reentry will not avail owner. 32 C. 498. Is ordinarily a question of fact. 83 C. 500; 89 C. 359; 90 C. 133; 99 C. 67; 105 C.
725; but see 95 C. 619. By an heir, as against right of administrator to sell land under order of court. 7 Wheat. 59. Disclaimer.
92 C. 546. By one cotenant against others; of island little visited. 95 C. 619. Possession under subsisting contract for
purchase of title, when adverse. 106 C. 301. Adverse possession of fee must be against everyone; of easement, only against
general public. 105 C. 728. Church society maintaining horse sheds on disputed land held to have acquired it by adverse
possession. 103 C. 336. Applies only to the acquiring of title to land by adverse possession. 136 C. 277. Claim of right
and an intent by possessor to use property as his own are among essential elements. 137 C. 40. Entry must be made within
fifteen years and an action must be commenced and prosecuted to effect within one year after entry. Id., 205. Plaintiff
alleged title by adverse possession. Defendant's demurrer stated cause of action barred by statute. Demurrer without merit
because plaintiff alleged he remained in possession to date of complaint. 138 C. 102. Conclusion of court that title by
adverse possession had not been proved, sustained. Id., 690. Cited. 139 C. 220; 141 C. 198. Exclusive possession not met
if dominion over property is shared with other users. 154 C. 194. Where deeds of claimant and his predecessors in title
expressly excepted strip of land claimed and neither his grantor nor predecessor grantor had orally conveyed excepted
strip, connection between successive adverse claimants necessary to successful acquisition of title by tacking successive
adverse possessions held lacking. 155 C. 327. Adverse possession. Sporadic trespasses should not be construed as ousting
the owner-neighbor of possession especially where there was no open and notorious possession. 158 C. 510. Adverse
possession against cotenants and daughters; may be based on fraudulently obtained, void probate decree; nature of possession required, role of "color of title"; section discussed. 171 C. 149.
Prescription. Statute applies by analogy; nature of prescriptive right. 2 C. 607; 75 C. 522. Cannot give right to maintain
nuisance. 69 C. 668; 72 C. 531; 83 C. 417. Community cannot acquire, to right-of-way. 78 C. 130. By city for sewer. 81
C. 137. Implies grant. 78 C. 132. User under deed cannot be basis for; 72 C. 188; but user may originate in contract or
equitable right. 8 C. 137; 90 C. 241. Whether user is under license or claim of right question of fact. 78 C. 156; 89 C. 359;
96 C. 680; 105 C. 725. Must be reasonable. 83 C. 424. Elements. Id., 624; 90 C. 241; 105 C. 725. Imputing knowledge to
owner. 81 C. 137; see 87 C. 31. Building or eaves jutting over land. 78 C. 401; 87 C. 31; 89 C. 359; 75 C. 664. Diversion
of water; 69 C. 668; 83 C. 611. Right to discharge surface water, not lost by ten years' use of intercepting ditch. 83 C. 59.
Right to acquire lateral support by, quaere. 82 C. 126. Cannot be acquired as to secret tunnel beneath way. 87 C. 31. Fire
escapes jutting over line. 92 C. 546. Underground sewer. 96 C. 676. Loss of easement by prescription; elements. 104 C.
140, 596. Abutter on highway cannot acquire prescriptive right to maintain encroachments therein. Id., 619. Right-of-way
cannot be acquired over route of public highway unless discontinued or abandoned. Id., 391. Adverse user need be only
exclusive as against public. 105 C. 728. Change of user from horse-drawn to motor driven vehicles does not break period.
Id. User must be sufficiently open to put owner on notice. 108 C. 24. Lessee in possession cannot prescribe in himself;
unless lease is effective to cover right-of-way, lessee's adverse use of the way cannot enure to lessor's benefit. 121 C. 638.
See note to section 47-37.
Cited. 3 CA 602, 605. Cited. 6 CA 187, 188. Cited. 10 CA 669, 671. Cited. 13 CA 518, 525. Cited. 15 CA 458, 459,
467, 468, 475, 490. Cited. 35 CA 398, 399.
Cited. 15 CS 467.
Driveway openly used in common by adjoining property owners for more than fifteen years resulted in prescriptive
right of plaintiff to such use and defendants were ordered to remove a newly installed fence. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 360.
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(1972, P.A. 283; P.A. 73-93; P.A. 90-169.)
History: P.A. 73-93 substituted "the party seeking to enforce such restriction" for "such party" for clarity; P.A. 90-169
replaced "a recorded private restriction" with "a private restriction recorded in the land records of the municipality in
which the property is located".
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(b) Any person legally incapable of bringing any such action at the accruing of the
right of action may sue at any time within three years after becoming legally capable
of bringing the action.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to actions upon judgments of any
court of the United States or of any court of any state within the United States, or to any
cause of action governed by article 2 of title 42a.
(1949 Rev., S. 8315; 1959, P.A. 574, S. 8; 1971, P.A. 18, S. 1; P.A. 82-160, S. 246.)
History: 1959 act deleted exception for nonnegotiable promissory notes and added provision re article 2 of title 42a;
1971 act referred to any "contract in writing" rather than to "any contract in writing not under seal"; P.A. 82-160 rephrased
the section and inserted Subsec. indicators.
See Sec. 17b-122 re reimbursement of town by pauper.
The statute of limitations does not apply to continuing trusts. 33 C. 76; 102 C. 302; 104 C. 189. It applies to collecting
agents. 32 C. 540. A book debt, if not recoverable in an action of book debt, by reason of this statute, is not recoverable
at all; 5 C. 342; unless there has been a new accounting. 6 C. 248. Where action at law is barred, one in equity will generally
be also. 32 C. 538. Day on which note matures should be excluded in computing the six years. 43 C. 57. Note made by
life legatee to testator and distributed to maker is not barred; his continued life use amounts to a payment of interest. 46
C. 443, 444. This section applies to money demand on executed simple contract. Id., 142. Statute begins to run against
demand note from its date. Id., 437. Suit seasonably commenced but abated by defendant's death arrests running of statute.
Id., 440. Implied trusts are within the statute. 33 C. 77; 59 C. 156. Payment of interest on mortgage keeps claim alive,
although the mortgage is afterward discovered to be invalid. 53 C. 180. It is a general rule that the statute will not begin
to run until there is someone who can sue and be sued. 61 C. 451. Parties cannot defer the running of the statute by their
own laches. Id. Action against the guarantor of a nonnegotiable note is governed by this section and not by section 52-
573. 66 C. 461. It is a good defense to a claim made as a set-off, that it is barred by the statute. 49 C. 92. If claim be barred,
mechanic's lien to secure it cannot be enforced. 50 C. 271. Statutes de settlement of estates supersede general statutes of
limitation. Id., 52 C. 141. Does not run in favor of husband as statutory trustee of wife. 55 C. 221. Claim barred by statute
may still be used in recoupment, when. Id., 432. Laches not to be imputed to one who sues within the statutory period. Id.,
578. Statute runs against a resulting trust, when. 62 C. 408. A domestic judgment is not included in this section. 74 C. 656.
Statute runs against claim for services to decedent rendered more than six years before death unless rendered on promise
to pay by will. 80 C. 19; 82 C. 651; 83 C. 38. Where deceased promised to pay for services by will, right of action does
not accrue until death, even where suit is on quantum meruit; 121 C. 97; same where deceased promised only heir to pay
by not making will. 96 C. 384. Statute begins to run on demand note, when. 75 C. 431; 78 C. 267; 84 C. 55. A tax is not
within this section. 85 C. 378. Effect of failure to get order limiting time to present claims against an estate, where debtor
dies. 75 C. 408. Action on endorsement of note not an action on note. 66 C. 457. In action on implied contract for use of
land, treating possession as tenancy from year to year will not remove bar. 77 C. 7. When action for breach of contract
accrues; 86 C. 494; advances by partner; 68 C. 459; settlement of partnership accounts; 68 C. 457; where payments are
credited on account. 70 C. 434; 125 C. 199. Statute of limitations to run from the time when the cause of action accrues.
114 C. 170. Each item of a series of charges for services may be separate debt for purposes of statute. 129 C. 541; 134 C.
259. Applied to suit against surgeon for breach of implied contract to use reasonable care and skill, when. 103 C. 720; see
127 C. 386 and section 52-584; also see 119 C. 507 and 134 C. 259. Cited. 110 C. 414; 112 C. 368; 137 C. 691; 139 C.
220; 149 C. 326. Right of action on demand note accrues upon its execution and delivery. 116 C. 559. Due bill barred by
this section. 124 C. 294. Statute applies to wife's claim for support. 124 C. 547. Applies to action by employee to recover
overtime pay and liquidated damages under federal Fair Labor Standards Act. 134 C. 246. Distinguished from section 52-
581; this section applies to executed parol contracts. Id., 259. Does not apply to action by municipality to recover assessment
of benefits. 131 C. 50. Nor to statutory action by one town against another for reimbursement of expense of educating
children. 132 C. 203. But applies to action by policeman against city to recover salary withheld. 134 C. 260. History of
this statute. Id., 266. See notes to chapter 926. Proof of existence and performance of contract unenforceable because of
statute of frauds is a sufficient answer to defense of statute of limitations, by showing that no action brought earlier could
be maintained. 134 C. 536. Applies to executed contracts. Id., 585. Ignorance that damage has been done does not prevent
running of statute, except where there is something tantamount to fraudulent concealment of cause of action. 135 C. 176.
Court's finding that debt was barred, not supported by evidence. 136 C. 187. An unconditional promise to pay will not be
implied if the acknowledgment of indebtedness, even though unequivocal, is accompanied by a conditional promise to
pay. In such a situation the indebtedness remains barred until the condition has been met. 144 C. 403. Burden of proof on
plaintiff to remove bar of statute. Defense can be lost by an unequivocal acknowledgment or recognition of debt or payment
on account. 145 C. 300. The statute of limitations was tolled because, although the defendant stopped making the specified
payments provided for in the support contract, he did provide money for the child's support which he intended to go toward
the fulfillment of his contractual obligation. 153 C. 671-673. Cited. 165 C. 410, 415. When plaintiff's performance of oral
contract has been completely executed, this section and not section 52-581 establishes applicable limitation period. 170
C. 243, 247−249. Amended complaint which did not allege a new cause of action related to date of complaint and thus
claims therein were not barred by statute. 177 C. 191, 206. Statute not applicable where plaintiff's attorney was legally
incapable of bringing action; applies only to the contractual party. Id., 281, 285. Cited. 178 C. 258, 261; id., 529, 531.
Cited. 184 C. 558, 565. Cited. 191 C. 150, 156−160; Id., 194, 197. Cited. 192 C. 732, 734. Cited. 196 C. 509, 512, 513.
Cited. 199 C. 683, 687, 690. Cited. 205 C. 219, 244, 245. Cited. 210 C. 734, 745, 746. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 228
C. 436, 438. Cited. 239 C. 284.
Cited. 1 CA 7, 8. Statute is not tolled pending appointment of an administrator or executor. Id., 535, 536, 538, 540.
Creditor is entitled to compensation under an insurance policy loss payable clause even though his right to bring suit against
debtor has been extinguished by running of statute of limitations. Id., 595, 596, 601. Where plaintiff filed an amended
complaint listing additional defects in construction of new house the identity of the cause of action remained the same so
that the six-year contract statute of limitations applied and the court properly allowed the amendment in its discretion. Id.,
652, 653. Cited. 3 CA 250, 252. Cited. Id., 602, 605. Cited. 5 CA 293, 294. Right of action accrued upon completion of
services rendered. Id., 465, 466. Cited. 6 CA 212, 214−216, 226, 229. Cited and statute of limitation also cited. 11 CA
375, 378, 388, 389. Cited. 12 CA 529, 530, 532, 538. Cited. 17 CA 159−164. Cited. 30 CA 803, 805, 807. Cited. 33 CA
702, 714. Cited. 34 CA 395, 400. Cited. 39 CA 289, 292. Cited. 42 CA 426. Cited. 43 CA 435. Cited. 45 CA 466. Statute
of limitations cited. Id.
Time when statute begins to run. 3 CS 209. Cited. 5 CS 205; 7 CS 145; 8 CS 363; 12 CS 286; 13 CS 174; 17 CS 61.
"I will take care of it as soon as I can" takes debt out of statute. 7 CS 48. Applies to action for recovery of loan not evidenced
in writing and loan not signed by borrower. 8 CS 264. The law of the locus rather than the forum governs the statute of
limitations. 9 CS 399. A payment to toll the statute of limitations must be made or authorized by the debtor. 10 CS 371.
Claim of physician not barred by statute of limitations because it was found to be an open running account. Id., 494.
Payment of interest and principal by grantee of the equity of redemption does not keep the statute of limitation from tolling
against the liability of the mortgagor on the note. 11 CS 461. Does not apply to a town's right to reimbursement under
section 10-253. History. 13 CS 58. When services have been rendered by police officers, an implied contract to pay them
arises and the statute of limitations for contracts is applicable. 14 CS 130. Distinction between legal damage and apparent
damage. Id., 464. There is no statute of limitations regarding domestic judgments. The prima facie presumption of payment,
which arises after twenty years, presents the only limitation of time to the collection of a domestic judgment. 17 CS 134.
Where plaintiff alleges promise by defendant's intestate during his lifetime to pay for services out of his estate, cause of
action does not accrue until intestate's death. 18 CS 133. Statute should not be passed upon by demurrer to complaint
unless matters in avoidance of it have been voluntarily inserted in complaint. 19 CS 85. Institution of arbitration proceedings
not the bringing of "action" under statute. 25 CS 76. Cited. 28 CS 162. Cited. 29 CS 501. Applied retroactively, absent
express intent to the contrary. 30 CS 596. Mental incompetence does not toll the six-year limitation, but imprisonment
may. 31 CS 46. Cited. 34 CS 22, 24. Cited. 35 CS 199, 202. Applicable where plaintiff's performance was completely
executed in contrast to applicability of Sec. 52-501 to executory contracts. 37 CS 735, 736, 741. Cited. 39 CS 458, 461.
Cited. 42 CS 348, 354. Cited. 44 CS 207, 209−212, 214.
In order for the statute of limitation to be available as a defense, it must be pleaded. If a party fails to plead it, he is
deemed to have waived it and the plaintiff may recover, notwithstanding that the period has run. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 569, 571.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 366, 367.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 233 C. 474, 479. Cited. 240 C. 287. Statute of limitations cited. Id.
Cited. 3 CA 250, 251. Cited. 12 CA 529, 533. Cited. 34 CA 732, 736. Where arbitration clause in insurance policy
meant underinsured motorist claimant could not maintain an action against provider until all underlying insurance was
exhausted, right of action did not accrue, and statute of limitations did not begin, until that time. 49 CA 653.
When debtor defaults on obligation payable in installments, statute of limitations on installments due in the future does
not run until installment becomes due or irreversible acceleration of the debt occurs. 45 CS 325.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8316.)
See Sec. 52-555 re actions for injuries resulting in death.
See Sec. 52-584 re limitation of action for injury to person or property.
Right of action accrues, when. 26 C. 334. Applies to action for a fire communicated by a locomotive engine. 56 C. 24.
Statute runs in favor of bank directors who have been negligent in control of bank. 89 C. 475. Action by lower riparian
proprietor for pollution of stream is within this section. 80 C. 185. History of this section. 82 C. 580. When statute begins
to run in favor of an administrator. 90 C. 569. Relation of this section to section 52-584. 91 C. 36. Prior to barring of
alienation of affections action recovery could be had for loss of consortium occurring within the statutory period. 117 C.
213; 133 C. 662, 663. Applied to action for fraudulent confinement. 123 C. 651. Under section 52-590 limitation begins
to run when defendant moves into state. 131 C. 675. Action against officer and director of corporation for breach of duty
to corporation and stockholders is within statute. 129 C. 674. Cited. 149 C. 326. Limitation applicable to all actions founded
upon a tort which do not fall within those causes of action enumerated in section 52-584 or another section. Tort of invasion
of plaintiffs' usufructuary and property rights in diversion of waters of stream is within limitation. 155 C. 477. Cited. 159
C. 502. Cited. 162 C. 247. Cited. 168 C. 329. Action based on strict liability must, by this section, be brought within three
years of date of sale of product claim to be defective, and an allegation of continuing failure to warn of product's claimed
danger does not alter that requirement. 170 C. 289, 294, 297−299, 301, 302. Cited. 178 C. 258, 261; 180 C. 230, 242. Cited.
183 C. 504−507. Cited. 189 C. 162, 182. Cited. 190 C. 8−10, 12. Cited. 191 C. 150, 164. Cited. 192 C. 327, 330, 332. Must
be pleaded as a special defense. 197 C. 9−11, 14−16. Cited. 198 C. 660, 665. Cited. 202 C. 57, 66. Cited. Id., 234, 244.
Cited. 204 C. 303, 326. Cited. 205 C. 1, 3−5. Cited. Id., 93, 98. Cited. 207 C. 204, 209, 212, 213. Cited. 209 C. 437, 440,
441, 446. Cited. 212 C. 509, 525. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 218 C. 512, 527. Cited. 219 C. 363, 368. Cited. 221 C.
384, 387. Cited. 223 C. 436, 443, 444. Cited. 224 C. 483, 487. Cited. 226 C. 652, 661. Cited. 229 C. 256, 265. Cited. 232
C. 527, 531, 535. Cited. 235 C. 559, 561, 566. Cited. 238 C. 800.
Annotations to former statute limiting action for trespass or slander: In trespass for mesne profits, they will not be
awarded for over three years. 2 R. 440. Action of trespass is not the appropriate one to recover for a fire communicated
by a railway locomotive. 56 C. 24. In case of continuing trespass, recovery may be had for damages accruing for three
years next preceding the action. 76 C. 316. History of section. 82 C. 581. See note to section 52-584. This section applies
where cause of action is founded on absolute liability from ultrahazardous activity of blasting. 137 C. 577. Cited. 139 C.
222; 142 C. 452. Such defense must be pleaded. 143 C. 31. The date of the act or omission complained of is the date when
the negligent conduct of the defendant occurs and is not the date when the plaintiff first sustains damages. 144 C. 170.
Cited. 1 CA 123, 136; Id., 550, 552, 554. Cited. Id., 652, 653. Cited. 2 CA 322, 323, 327. Cited. 5 CA 473−476. "The
nature of the right sued upon and not the form of action nor the relief demanded determines the applicability of the statute
of limitations." 6 CA 187, 188. Cited. 15 CA 458, 459, 468. Cited. Id., 677, 678, 683. Cited. 18 CA 525, 526, 528, 529.
Cited. 25 CA 360−365. Cited. 31 CA 235, 236, 238. Cited. Id., 750, 751. Cited. 32 CA 384, 388. Cited. Id., 786, 789−791.
Cited. 33 CA 422, 423, 429. Cited. Id., 842, 845. Cited. Id., 702, 713. Cited. 35 CA 31, 37. Cited. 39 CA 183, 191. Statute
as applied to plaintiff not unconstitutional. Id., 289, 290, 292, 293, 298, 301, 302−305. Cited. 40 CA 449−552. Cited. 42
CA 712. Cited. 45 CA 554. Cited. 46 CA 199.
Cited. 4 CS 222; id., 293; 8 CS 302; 17 CS 114; id., 407; 18 CS 225; id., 310; 22 CS 300. Application of statute of
limitations is that of the forum and not where the cause of action arose. 12 CS 477. Section 22-357, making the owner or
keeper of a dog liable for any damage to person or property done by the dog, is controlled by a three-year statute of
limitations for an action founded upon a tort. 14 CS 428; 26 CS 294, 296. Action for inducing entry into a mental institution
by fraud falls within three-year statute of limitations. 15 CS 434. Where action charges breach of contract for failure to
procure insurance coverage against damage to plaintiff's property, cause of action is in tort but is not one for injury to
property under section 52-584. 17 CS 62. Cause of action based on nuisance when not arising from negligence based on
three-year statute of limitations. 20 CS 35. Controlling statute of limitations for parents sued under section 52-572. 24 CS
320. Impleading under section 52-102a barred by statute of limitations. 27 CS 46. Claim against manufacturer for injuries
caused by defective skates held tort liability, not breach of implied warranty under section 42a-2-725 of Uniform Commercial Code, and therefore barred by statute of limitations. Id. Statute of limitations for tort actions applies to personal injury
action based on breach of warranty. 28 CS 160. Action for tort limited to three year statute of limitations. 29 CS 71. Cited.
29 CS 72. Mental incompetence does not toll the time limitation, but imprisonment may. 31 CS 46. Cited. 34 CS 22, 25,
26, 30. Cited. Id., 643, 646. Three-year statute of limitations for tort actions applies to fraud or deception action. 36 CS
277, 279, 280. Cited. Id., 357, 364. Cited. 39 CS 458, 461. Cited. 44 CS 207, 212. Cited. Id., 477. Cited. Id., 527.
Cause of action brought under section 52-572 is governed by three-year limitation imposed by this section. 3 Conn.
Cir. Ct. 379.
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(b) In any such action a product seller may implead any third party who is or may
be liable for all or part of the claimant's claim, if such third party defendant is served
with the third party complaint within one year from the date the cause of action brought
under subsection (a) of this section is returned to court.
(c) The ten-year limitation provided for in subsection (a) shall not apply to any
product liability claim brought by a claimant who is not entitled to compensation under
chapter 568, provided the claimant can prove that the harm occurred during the useful
safe life of the product. In determining whether a product's useful safe life has expired,
the trier of fact may consider among other factors: (1) The effect on the product of wear
and tear or deterioration from natural causes; (2) the effect of climatic and other local
conditions in which the product was used; (3) the policy of the user and similar users
as to repairs, renewals and replacements; (4) representations, instructions and warnings
made by the product seller about the useful safe life of the product; and (5) any modification or alteration of the product by a user or third party.
(d) The ten-year limitation provided for in subsection (a) shall be extended pursuant
to the terms of any express written warranty that the product can be used for a period
longer than ten years, and shall not preclude any action against a product seller who
intentionally misrepresents a product or fraudulently conceals information about it, provided the misrepresentation or fraudulent concealment was the proximate cause of harm
of the claimant.
(e) The ten-year limitation provided for in subsection (a) shall not apply to any
product liability claim, whenever brought, involving injury, death or property damage
caused by contact with or exposure to asbestos, except that (1) no such action for personal
injury or death may be brought by the claimant later than sixty years from the date that
the claimant last had contact with or exposure to asbestos and (2) no such action for
damage to property may be brought by the claimant later than thirty years from the date
of last contact with or exposure to asbestos.
(f) The definitions contained in section 52-572m shall apply to this section.
(g) The provisions of this section shall apply to all product liability claims brought
on or after October 1, 1979.
(P.A. 76-293, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-604, S. 36, 84; P.A. 79-483, S. 3; 79-631, S. 107, 111; P.A. 82-160, S. 247; P.A. 87-537,
S. 12, 13; P.A. 90-191, S. 1; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 40, 70.)
History: P.A. 77-604 made slight change in wording of Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-483 restated existing provisions, changing
deadline for bringing action from eight to ten years from date party against whom action is brought parted with possession
or control of product and changing applicable date re pending claims or bringing of claims from June 4, 1976, to October
1, 1979, and inserted new provisions clarifying ten-year limitation designated as Subsecs. (c) and (d), relettering former
Subsec. (c) as (e); P.A. 79-631 deleted reference to pending claims in Subsec. (e); P.A. 82-160 added a new Subsec. (e)
concerning the applicability of definitions in Sec. 52-572m, redesignated the former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f) and made
minor technical changes; P.A. 87-537 inserted new Subsec. (e) re exception to ten-year limitation on claims resulting from
contact with or exposure to asbestos, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly and made technical changes; P.A. 90-
191 amended Subsec. (e) to increase from thirty to sixty years the period of time after the claimant last had contact with
or exposure to asbestos within which an action for personal injury or death may be brought, retaining a time limitation of
thirty years for an action for damage to property; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 amended Subsec. (e) to reposition the words
"for personal injury or death" from Subdiv. (2) to Subdiv. (1) to correct a typographical error.
See chapter 400a (Sec. 20-435 et seq.) re definitions of asbestos, etc.
When the wrong sued upon consists of a continuing course of conduct, the statute does not begin to run until that course
of conduct is completed. 180 C. 230, 241, 242. Cited. 187 C. 363, 371. Cited. 191 C. 150, 161. Court held act to be
constitutional; not in violation of equal protection or open access to courts. 200 C. 562, 565, 566, 570, 579, 583, 584, 586.
Cited. 203 C. 156, 158. Cited. 205 C. 219, 241. Cited. 207 C. 496, 509, 514, 515. Cited. Id., 599, 610, 611. Cited. Id., 599,
610. Cited. 210 C. 189−191, 193. Product liability act cited. Id. Cited. 212 C. 462, 466, 467. Cited. Id., 509, 520, 523−
527. Cited. 213 C. 282, 287. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 230 C. 335, 339, 342, 346.
P.A. 79-483 (products liability law) cited. 16 CA 558, 562. Cited. 31 CA 824, 831, 852, 853. Cited. 46 CA 699.
Cited. 37 CS 735−738.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 200 C. 562, 576. Cited. 203 C. 156, 157. Cited. 205 C. 219, 239. Section held constitutional. 207 C. 599−602,
604, 606, 608, 609, 611. Cited. 212 C. 462, 464. Cited. Id., 509, 527. Cited. 230 C. 335, 339.
Cited. 31 CA 824, 831. Cited. 46 CA 699. Statute of limitations began to run when damage was first discovered. 48
CA 160.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 210 C. 189, 194−196.
Cited. 46 CA 18. Cited. Id., 699.
Cited. 44 CS 510.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 207 C. 599, 601. Cited. 230 C. 335, 339.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 212 C. 509, 524.
Subsec. (g):
Cited. 212 C. 509, 526.
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(P.A. 83-15, S. 1, 2.)
See chapter 506, part IV (Sec. 27-140aa et seq.) for Vietnam Herbicides Information Commission.
Cited. 205 C. 219, 242. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 52-577 and 52-577a, no action to
recover damages for personal injury or property damage caused by exposure to a hazardous chemical substance or mixture or hazardous pollutant released into the environment
shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury or damage complained of is discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to an action
brought against (1) any municipal waterworks system established and operated under
chapter 102 or any special act, (2) any regional water authority established under any
general statute or special act, or (3) any water company as defined in section 16-1.
(P.A. 84-287; P.A. 98-140, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 98-140 redefined "hazardous chemical substance or mixture" to include petroleum and petroleum
products.
Cited. 205 C. 219, 243. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 238 C. 800.
Cited. 31 CA 824, 852−854.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (3) cited. 238 C. 800. Subdiv. (4) cited. Id.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 228 C. 905. Cited. 230 C. 12, 14, 16. Cited. 238 C. 800.
Cited. 31 CA 824, 825, 831, 845, 852, 853.
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(P.A. 86-401, S. 6, 7; 86-403, S. 104, 132; P.A. 91-240.)
History: P.A. 86-403 made technical change; P.A. 91-240 changed "two" years to "seventeen" years and deleted phrase
"except that no such action may be brought more than seven years from the date of the act complained of".
See Sec. 54-193a re statute of limitations in criminal prosecution.
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Court concluded that section as amended by expanding period of liability did not create a
substantive change in the law that would preclude its retroactive application. 224 C. 483, 484, 486−494. Cited. 230 C.
472, 484.
Cited. 39 CA 183−185, 187−195, 212−214.
Cited. 44 CS 527. Cited. 45 CS 136.
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(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
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(1949 Rev., S. 8317.)
Statute of limitations to run from the time when the cause of action accrues. 144 C. 170. Cited. 215 C. 464, 476.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8318.)
Cited. 139 C. 220. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
Cited. 3 CA 602, 605.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8319; P.A. 82-160, S. 248.)
History: P.A. 82-160 replaced "estate" with "property" and rephrased the section.
Same rule applies in actions of book debt; 1 D. 250; but not, ordinarily, in other cases. 9 C. 365. See note to section
52-576.
Cited. 13 CS 175.
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(b) This section shall not apply to causes of action governed by article 2 of title 42a.
(1949 Rev., S. 8320; 1961, P.A. 116, S. 24; P.A. 82-160, S. 249.)
History: 1961 act excepted causes of action governed by article 2 of title 42a; P.A. 82-160 deleted the exception for
"actions for a debt due by book or actions founded on proper subjects of book debt", rephrased the section and inserted
Subsec. indicators.
Applies to actions to recover unliquidated damages for a nonperformance of executory contracts. 52 C. 146. Cited. 56
C. 25. Applied to suit against surgeon for breach of implied contract to use reasonable care and skill, when. 103 C. 720;
127 C. 386; 119 C. 507 and 134 C. 259 and section 52-584. Applied to oral agreement to pay wages during incapacity and
to reemploy in consideration of waiver of right to damages for injury. 114 C. 732; 134 C. 259. Does not apply to action
by employee to recover overtime pay and liquidated damages under federal Fair Labor Standards Act. 134 C. 246. History
of this section. Id., 258. Distinguished from section 52-576; this section is restricted to executory contracts. Id., 259. See
note to chapter 926. Proof of existence and performance of contract unenforceable because of statute of frauds is a sufficient
answer to defense of statute of limitations by showing that no action brought earlier could be maintained. 134 C. 536.
Applies only to executory contracts. 134 C. 585; 135 C. 179. Since contract was executed and all that remained was to
pay plaintiff, this section does not bar action. 134 C. 585. Statute of limitations to run from the time when the cause of
action accrues. 144 C. 170. When plaintiff's performance on oral contract has been completely executed, section 52-576
and not this section establishes applicable limitation period. 170 C. 243, 247−249. Cited. 210 C. 734, 746. Cited. 214 C.
464, 476. Cited. 217 C. 340, 355.
Cited. 17 CA 159, 160, 162, 163. Cited. 18 CA 525, 528, 530. Cited. 33 CA 702, 714. Cited. 39 CA 289, 292.
When statute begins to run. 3 CS 209. Applies to actions to recover unliquidated damages for nonperformance of
executory contracts. 8 CS 264. Cited. 9 CS 401; id., 522; 17 CS 61. History and scope discussed. 13 CS 174. Statute is
tolled from incurrence of legal not apparent damage. 14 CS 464. Applies to suits based upon oral contract of employment
under the Fair Labor Standards Acts of 1938. 15 CS 3. Procedure required herein cannot be circumvented to avoid the
three year limit set. 31 CS 434. Application restricted to executory contracts only in contrast to application of Sec. 52-576
to contracts where party has fully performed. 37 CS 735, 741. Cited. 39 CS 458, 461.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 367.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8322; P.A. 00-80, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 00-80 added exception authorizing a petition based on DNA evidence not discoverable or available at
time of original trial to be brought at any time after the discovery or availability of the new evidence, effective May 16,
2000, and applicable to any offense committed prior to, on or after that date.
The "rendition" is the time when the judgment was actually entered. 1 R. 54. Complaint for equitable relief from
judgment obtained without notice should be seasonably brought. 46 C. 605. Petition for new trial may be brought under
this section despite section 52-212, though judgment was by default. 93 C. 160; 97 C. 123. Cited. 138 C. 573; 140 C. 464.
Effect of three-year limitation not decided. 142 C. 20. "Rendition of judgment" is the judgment at the trial court where it
is sustained on appeal. 181 C. 58, 59. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 229 C. 397, 426. Cited. 230 C. 427, 435.
Cited. 3 CA 322, 328. Cited. 24 CA 152, 155. Cited. 25 CA 155, 158. Cited. 27 CA 621, 623, 624, 626, 627.
Must be determined solely upon its own issues and without regard to the questions raised by an appeal from the judgment.
20 CS 469. Imposition of sentence is final judgment in criminal cases and stay of execution does not affect time limit for
bringing appeal. 36 CS 53−55. Cited. Id. Cited. 37 CS 891, 895. Cited. 38 CS 534, 535.
Motion for new trial not equivalent to petition for new trial. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 388.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8323.)
When right of action accrues. 26 C. 334. Assumpsit for money collected on execution, not within the statute. 1 R. 303.
Action against sheriff for default of deputy; deputy's suit on receipt held to constitute an acknowledgment of continuing
liability which prevented the running of the statute. 38 C. 195. Action against officer for neglecting to make demand of
garnishee, accrues at the expiration of the sixty days allowed for that purpose. 50 C. 526. Statute of limitations to run from
the time when the cause of action accrues. 144 C. 170. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
Limited suits on former section 18-49 as to time of commencement. 7 CS 328.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8324; 1957, P.A. 467; 1969, P.A. 401, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act changed deadline for bringing action from one year to two years from date injury is first sustained
or discovered or should have been discovered, effective October 1, 1969, and applicable to injuries first sustained on or
after that date.
See Sec. 52-190a re automatic ninety-day extension to allow reasonable inquiry in malpractice action.
See Sec. 52-555 re actions for injuries resulting in death.
See Sec. 52-594 re time limits for executor or administrator to bring personal action which survives to representatives
of a deceased person.
Cited. 34 C. 58; 114 C. 732; 123 C. 648; 128 C. 108; 144 C. 282; 148 C. 327; 154 C. 708. In case of death, failure to
appoint administrator will not stop statute running. 77 C. 110. Includes all corporations. 77 C. 529. Demurrer cannot raise
question of statute, as date of injury is immaterial. 81 C. 284; 82 C. 579; 83 C. 503. "Injury" means hurt; statute applies
to action by husband for negligent injury to wife. 83 C. 505. Action for damage to goods from fall of leased building held
to be in this section. 82 C. 578. Negligence of telegraph company in changing order for goods not within this section. 91
C. 35. Applied to action against surgeon for negligence in treatment; but not against him in contract. 103 C. 719; but see
119 C. 507. History of this section. 119 C. 502. Applies to all actions to recover for personal injuries whether due to
negligence or not. Id., 507. In malpractice action statute runs from act if injury was then complete, from termination of
treatment if injury arises from a course of treatment. 127 C. 385. Applies to actions against nonresidents begun under
section 52-62. 116 C. 648. Connecticut statute held applicable to action here under N. J. workmen's compensation law
although right of action thereunder did not arise until after expiration of the one-year period. 131 C. 665. See notes to
chapter 926. Ignorance that damage has been done does not prevent running of statute, except where there is something
tantamount to fraudulent concealment of cause of action. 135 C. 176. Does not apply to cause of action founded on absolute
liability from ultrahazardous activity of blasting. 137 C. 577. Cannot be construed as embodying an exception by implication
in favor of an unemancipated minor. 139 C. 218. An action for injury to the person is governed by the one-year statute of
limitations only if the injury is caused by negligence, by reckless or wanton misconduct, or by malpractice. 142 C. 452.
The enactment of a statute which may bar an action even before the cause of action accrues is not beyond the power of the
legislature and is consonant with the purpose of a statute of limitations which is to prevent the unexpected enforcement
of stale claims concerning which the persons interested have been thrown off their guard by want of prosecution. 144 C.
170. The one-year period of limitation starts to run at the date when the defendant negligently does the act which results
in damages to the plaintiff. Id. When the act or omission complained of was not merely selling a defective cartridge but
permitting it to be available for future use without indicating its potential danger, such a claim was not an act or omission
completed at the time of the sale but of conduct continuing to the time of the injury. 144 C. 316. Running of statute of
limitations suspended between decedent's death and appointment of administrator in personal injury action against estate.
153 C. 255. Does not apply to action by riparian owners against water company for diversion of waters. 155 C. 477. Defense
of statute of limitations is not proper matter for plea to jurisdiction. 159 C. 416, 419. Cited. 168 C. 329. Action based on
negligence must, by this section, be brought within one year of injury complained of but in any event within three years
"of the act or omission complained of." 170 C. 289, 292, 294−299, 303. Cited. 185 C. 390, 400. Cited. 186 C. 632, 644.
Cited. 188 C. 301, 302. Cited. 190 C. 8−10, 12. Cited. 192 C. 327−334; Id., 451, 453, 458, 460; Id., 497, 503; Id., 732,
734−736, 738. Cited. 198 C. 660, 665. Cited. 199 C. 683, 687. Cited. 200 C. 562, 584. Cited. 201 C. 39−43, 45, 46, 48−
50. Lack of informed consent is malpractice under the statute. 205 C. 1, 3−6. Cited. Id., 255, 259. Cited. Id., 741, 742, 744,
751. Cited 206. C. 229, 232. Cited. 207 C. 204, 212, 213. Cited. Id., 496, 508, 509. Cited. Id., 599, 601. Cited. 209 C. 437,
441. Cited. 211 C. 199, 205, 206. Cited. 212 C. 509, 523, 525, 527. Application of three-year bar with respect to negligence
occurring prior to that period does not infringe upon Conn. Const. Art I, Sec. 10. 213 C. 282−286, 288, 289. Cited. 214 C.
242−244, 246, 247, 255. Cited. Id., 464, 476. Cited. 215 C. 377, 395. Cited. 216 C. 412−415. Cited. 218 C. 531, 532, 538,
541, 546. 219 C. 363, 366, 368. Cited. 225 C. 238, 241, 249. "Continuous treatment" and "continuing course of conduct"
doctrines discussed. 229 C. 256−258, 262, 263, 265. Cited. 232 C. 527, 531, 535. Cited. 237 C. 25, 26. Cited. 238 C. 800.
Cited. 239 C. 265. Cited. 242 C. 1. Statute of limitations was tolled; judgment of appellate court in Grimes v. Housing
Authority, 42 CA 324 reversed. Id., 236. Statute of limitations was tolled when employer received notice of an employee's
timely filed action against a third party tortfeasor and intervened within thirty-day period prescribed by Sec. 31-293. 246
C. 156. Where improvements to real property contemplated by an architect's or engineer's services are not completed
because of the defect complained of, Sec. 52-584a, and not Sec. 52-584, applies to plaintiff's cause of action. 247 C. 293.
Mental suffering constitutes injury, even if unaccompanied by physical trauma to the body. 248 C. 21.
Cited. 1 CA 7, 8; Id., 123−125, 135, 136. Cited. Id., 652, 653. Provides no exceptions for minors or insane persons. 3
CA 602−605. Cited. 6 CA 212−216, 226, 229. Cited. 11 CA 156−159. Cited. 14 CA 178−181. Cited. 16 CA 108, 111.
Cited. 18 CA 515, 516, 519. Cited. 19 CA 16, 18. Cited. 21 CA 524, 525. Cited. 22 CA 610−612, 614. Cited. 24 CA 239,
241. Cited. 25 CA 665−667. Cited. 29 CA 392. Cited. 31 CA 235, 236, 238. Cited. Id., 569−571. Cited. 32 CA 187, 189.
Cited. Id., 205, 210, 211. Cited. 33 CA 6, 7. Cited. Id., 378, 380−382, 385. Cited. Id., 422, 423, 425, 429, 432. Cited. Id.,
673, 674, 679. Cited. 34 CA 395, 398, 399. Cited. 38 CA 458−460, 466. Cited. Id., 829, 832. Cited. 42 CA 324; judgment
reversed, see 242 C. 236 et seq. Cited. 43 CA 397. Cited. 45 CA 775. Cited. 46 CA 712.
Cited. 1 CS 142; 8 CS 93; 9 CS 312; 10 CS 6; 11 CS 119; 17 CS 62; 18 CS 225; 23 CS 367; 24 CS 321 et seq. Includes
personal injuries whether or not due to negligence, citing 119 Conn. 500, 507. 3 CS 417. Injury means physical injury. 4
CS 293. Action for malpractice whether founded on tort or contract must be brought within one year. 6 CS 92; but see 11
CS 180. Cause of action otherwise barred by statute of limitations is not saved because it is asserted as a counterclaim. 9
CS 387. Statute should not be passed upon by demurrer unless matters in avoidance of it have been voluntarily inserted
in the complaint. 10 CS 419; 17 CS 1. This section carves out an action ex contractu resulting from tortious or negligent
conduct which caused a breach of contract. 12 CS 286. Withholding service for the purpose of allowing insurance company
to adjust claim will not estop the statute from tolling if the insurance company is not a party defendant. 14 CS 418. Legal
damage and apparent damage distinguished. Id., 464. Action for inducing entry into a mental institution is not limited by
this section but by section 52-577. 15 CS 434. See note to section 52-577 re 17 CS 62. Where amendment to complaint
made more than two years after accident was based on nuisance, it was not barred since it is a question of fact whether
nuisance resulted from positive act or negligence. 17 CS 114; 20 CS 36. Section controls limitation on action for damage
to plaintiff's fence caused by the crumpling of a stone ledge on defendant's property near the common boundary. 18 CS
308. Former statute: Claimed negligence against manufacturer from expulsion of automobile tire while being mounted on
rim held barred by statute because manufacture took place more than a year before action was begun; former statute
compared. 19 CS 293. Defendant employer and its insurer not required to intervene within the one-year period. 20 CS 31.
Prior statute compared. Id., 34. When wrong sued upon consists of continuing course of conduct, statute does not begin
to run until that course of conduct is completed. 22 CS 46. The statute of limitations bars the plaintiff from amending his
complaint in a personal injury action to add a claim for property damage more than one year after the collision. 22 CS 472.
Where the action is seasonably brought so far as this section is concerned, the legislature did not intend that this section
qualify the right of the employee under section 31-293 to join as a plaintiff within thirty days thereafter. 23 CS 106.
Counterclaim more than a year after the occurrence is barred unless it may be allowed under the exception. Held that
pleadings had been finally closed on the filing of a reply when they terminated in an issue of fact decisive of the merits of
the case. That the court might reopen the pleadings at any time to permit amendment did not mean that they were not closed
within the intendment of the statute. 23 CS 139. Where complaint is broad enough to permit proof of causes in tort and
contract, demurrer merely reaching tort action is insufficient. 24 CS 459. Where plaintiffs alleged only negligence in their
complaint, their motion to amend by charging defendant with wanton misconduct stated a new cause of action and could
not be granted since the statute of limitations had run. 25 CS 363. This section does not apply to the "Dog Injury" statute,
which is governed by section 52-577. 26 CS 294, 296. Impleading under section 52-102a barred by statute of limitations.
27 CS 46. Motion to amend complaint to expand or amplify original allegations does not change cause of action and is
not barred by statute of limitations. 27 CS 60, 62. Cited. 28 CS 162. Where one year period with respect to antemortem
injuries had not expired when decedent died, his personal representative under section 52-594 had year from date of death
to institute action. 28 CS 461, 463, 464. Ordinarily, statute of limitations does not commence to run against defendant
(third party plaintiff) and in favor of third-party defendant until judgment has been entered against defendant. 29 CS 9,
13. Statute of limitation suspended between decedent's death and appointment of administrator in personal injury action
against estate. 29 CS 246. Cited. 29 CS 246. The time does not begin to run in a case involving a failure to warn of a foreign
object in a patient's body until the object is discovered, unless reasonable diligence would have uncovered it earlier. 32
CS 118, 120. Cited. 34 CS 22, 26. Provisions of this section should not be extended to allow codefendant to interpose cross
claim when statute of limitations has run on the plaintiff's cause of action. Id., 247, 249, 250. Statute of limitation is tolled
upon the death of a tortfeasor until a fiduciary of his estate is properly appointed and qualified. 36 CS 121, 123, 125. Cited.
Id., 269, 270. Cited. 37 CS, 735, 736, 738; id., 899, 900. Cited. 38 CS 318, 319. Cited. 40 CS 266, 268. Cited. 42 CS 187,
188, 193, 196. Cited. 44 CS 148, 155. Cited. Id., 527. Cited. 45 CS 136. Continuing course of conduct doctrine does not
apply to the two-year limitation. Term "injury" in the statute requires an actionable harm. Id., 154.
Action based on claim physician broke contract to achieve certain result from operation is not malpractice action.
Malpractice defined. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 135. Cause of action brought under section 52-572 not governed by one-year limitation
imposed by this section. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 379. A defendant may be estopped by his agreement, conduct, representations
or fraud from asserting the bar of the statute; provided the plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence upon which the judge
can base such a finding. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 686, 689. In a small claims action, according to the Practice Book, sections 900,
901, the statute of limitation stops running when the case is entered in court even though the service of notice is not made
within the statutory period. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 690, 697. Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 488. Where pleadings showed plaintiffs knew
at date of accident they had substantial injuries, they had not met burden of demonstrating an exception to usual running
of this statute and defendant's motion for summary judgment was correctly granted. Id., 85. Defendant insurer's discussions
of settlement did not estop it from pleading this statute as defense to plaintiff's action where there was no fraud on its part
and final offer had been made four months before statute barred action. Id., 127. When defendant accepted plaintiff's offer
of settlement of her cause of action for personal injuries, statute became inoperative as defense as contract had been made
between the parties. Id., 274.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, in the case of
such an injury to property or the person or such an injury causing wrongful death, which
injury occurred during the seventh year after such substantial completion, an action in
tort to recover damages for such an injury or wrongful death may be brought within one
year after the date on which such injury occurred, irrespective of the date of death, but
in no event may such an action be brought more than eight years after the substantial
completion of construction of such an improvement.
(c) For purposes of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an improvement to real
property shall be considered substantially complete when (1) it is first used by the owner
or tenant thereof or (2) it is first available for use after having been completed in accordance with the contract or agreement covering the improvement, including any agreed
changes to the contract or agreement, whichever occurs first.
(d) The limitation prescribed by this section shall not be asserted by way of defense
by any person in actual possession or the control, as owner, tenant or otherwise, of such
an improvement at the time any deficiency in such an improvement constitutes the
proximate cause of the injury or death for which it is proposed to bring action.
(1969, P.A. 513, S. 1−5; 1972, P.A. 294, S. 36; P.A. 86-266, S. 2; P.A. 88-364, S. 70, 123; P.A. 98-137, S. 61, 62; 98-
219, S. 33, 34.)
History: 1972 act removed actions and arbitrations brought against architectural designers from purview of section;
P.A. 86-266 deleted former Subsec. (d), thereby expanding the applicability of the seven-year statute of limitations for
actions against architects and engineers, relettering former Subsec. (e) accordingly; P.A. 88-364 made technical change
in Subsec. (a); P.A. 98-137 made provisions applicable to actions and arbitrations against land surveyors for any deficiency
in land surveying in connection with an improvement to property, effective October 1, 1998, and applicable to any action
or arbitration brought on or after said date with respect to a land survey performed or furnished on or after said date; P.A.
98-219 revised effective date of P.A. 98-137, but without affecting this section.
Cited. 205 C. 219, 242. Cited. Id., 741, 742, 744, 751. Held constitutional. 207 C. 496, 497, 499−502, 504, 505, 507›
510, 514›517. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Where improvements to real property contemplated by an architect's or engineer's
services are not completed because of the defect complained of, Sec. 52-584a, and not Sec. 52-584, applies to plaintiff's
cause of action. 247 C. 293.
Cited. 24 CA 81, 82, 84. Cited. 45 CA 775.
Cited. 34 CS 22, 26.
Statute intended to create a seven year absolute maximum on actions against architects and engineers while leaving
any other lesser limitations in place. 6 CA 212, 215, 222−229.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 6 CA 212, 222, 224.
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(P.A. 81-32.)
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8325; P.A. 91-312, S. 44.)
History: P.A. 91-312 added provision re nonapplicability to any civil action brought by the state or a municipality to
recover a forfeiture or civil penalty.
Cited. 56 C. 23; 57 C. 54, 55. Amendment of declaration will not be allowed after the year. 4 D. 37. A bylaw prohibiting
any excavation in the highway held a penal statute. 64 C. 429. Statute giving additional compensation for cutting trees on
another's land not penal. 74 C. 134. Where statute gives forfeiture for each month's delay, no recovery can be had except
for year preceding action. 76 C. 559. Does not apply to action for liquidated damages for which employer is liable under
federal Fair Labor Standards Act. 134 C. 257. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8326.)
Demand on execution within sixty days is prerequisite to right to bring scire facias; statute runs from time of demand.
97 C. 398; 104 C. 280; 105 C. 427. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8327.)
It is no excuse that a petition for a new trial was pending during the whole of the year. 1 R. 249. A bond, in a bastardy
suit, may be sued within a year after the time for the last quarterly payment. K. 268. Judgment regarded as rendered at the
date of withdrawal, and not at the time of taxing costs. 48 C. 305. Claim against deceased surety, on bond for costs, may
be presented at any time within the probate limitation. 48 C. 384. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8328.)
Cited. 189 C. 401, 413−415. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 233 C. 304, 314.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8329.)
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8330; 1959, P.A. 429; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 87; P.A. 85-548, S. 4.)
History: 1959 act clarified language, specifying section applies to periods prescribed under chapter 925 or this chapter
and limited time excluded to seven years; 1963 act included periods prescribed in section 52-435a; P.A. 85-548 deleted
reference to Sec. 46b-160.
This applies, although both parties are and always have been nonresidents. 24 C. 442. A temporary absence is not within
the statute. 16 C. 113, 116; 105 C. 569. Ownership of attachable property in Connecticut does not give nonresident debtor
the right to invoke the aid of our statute of limitation. 55 C. 577. One who occupied apartment in New York with his wife
a considerable portion of the time held to be still a resident here. 92 C. 55. Periods during which defendant is within the
state may be added together to form statutory period; domicile in another state does not prevent one from having a usual
place of abode here; defendant may have two or more usual places of abode in two or more states; time excluded while
out of the state covers only absences which prevent service of process in actions in personam. 105 C. 571. Statute runs
against nonresident when he acquires a usual place of abode here; against a resident when he returns here. Id., 568. Not
applicable to actions against nonresidents begun under section 52-62. 116 C. 643. Cited. 131 C. 675. Cited. 225 C. 238, 241.
Cited. 31 CA 569, 571, 573.
When "usual place of abode" is acquired. 7 CS 145. Cited. 17 CS 222; id., 408. Statute of limitations should be raised
by special defense so that plaintiff may, in reply, plead this section. 18 CS 143. Where defendant had room at Yale University
and was absent therefrom only during summer vacation, his absence did not toll statute of limitations under this section.
27 CS 394. Cited. 40 CS 6, 8, 13. Cited. 42 CS 187, 196.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8331; P.A. 82-160, S. 250.)
History: P.A. 82-160 made minor changes in wording.
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 225 C. 13, 18. Cited. 234 C. 169, 180.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) When any action has been brought against an executor or administrator or continued against an executor or administrator after the death of the defendant and has failed
for any of the causes listed in subsection (a) of this section, the plaintiff, or his executor
or administrator in case a cause of action survives, may commence a new action within
six months after the determination of the original action.
(c) If an appeal is had from any such judgment to the Supreme Court or Appellate
Court, the time the case is pending upon appeal shall be excluded in computing the time
as above limited.
(d) The provisions of this section shall apply to any defendant who files a cross
complaint in any action, and to any action between the same parties or the legal representatives of either of them for the same cause of action or subject of action brought to any
court in this state, either before dismissal of the original action and its affirmance or
within one year after the dismissal and affirmance, and to any action brought to the
United States circuit or district court for the district of Connecticut which has been
dismissed without trial upon its merits or because of lack of jurisdiction in such court.
If such action is within the jurisdiction of any state court, the time for bringing the action
to the state court shall commence from the date of dismissal in the United States court,
or, if an appeal or writ of error has been taken from the dismissal, from the final determination of the appeal or writ of error.
(e) The provisions of this section shall apply to any claim against the state for which
a notice of claim has been properly and timely filed with the clerk of the Office of the
Claims Commissioner in accordance with sections 4-147 and 4-148 and which thereafter
has been dismissed by the Claims Commissioner pursuant to section 4-142.
(1949 Rev., S. 8332; P.A. 79-267; P.A. 82-160, S. 251; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 50, 82; P.A. 98-20, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 79-267 changed wording, referring to dismissal of action rather than erasure from docket and to setting
aside of judgment rather than arrest of judgment and deleting reference to abatement of writs, to conform to changes in
superior court rules; P.A. 82-160 reworded provisions and divided section into Subsecs; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 included
reference to appellate court in Subsec. (c); P.A. 98-20 added Subsec. (e) making section applicable to certain claims against
the state that have been dismissed by the Claims Commissioner pursuant to Sec. 4-142, effective April 24, 1998.
Original action held to have been defeated "for matter of form." 56 C. 591; 108 C. 485. Does not apply to provision in
insurance policy limiting right of action. 74 C. 514. Action for death by wrongful act is in this statute. 91 C. 395; 102 C.
69. Is valid; authorizes continuance of suit begun in state court before dismissal of suit in federal court. 93 C. 412. Where
action for death resulting from defendant's negligence is nonsuited, action can be recommenced within one year of date
of nonsuit, although more than one year has elapsed from date of accident. 102 C. 69. Allegations of new complaint may
set up different acts of negligence as long as cause of action remains the same. 108 C. 485. New action may substitute
action under wrongful death statute of New York for original complaint erroneously counting on Connecticut wrongful
death statute. Id., 444. Failure of officer to return writ to court is a default or neglect within the statute. 116 C. 29. An
appeal from a zoning board is not an "action" within the statute. 126 C. 603. Modifies section 52-555 if the circumstances
bring the case within its terms. 134 C. 386. Defective appeal from nonsuit falls within this section. 145 C. 99. Requirement
that new action must be "for the same cause" explained. 148 C. 327. Appeal from architectural examining board not an
"action" within meaning of this section. 153 C. 124, 125. Cited. 163 C. 388. Cited. 169 C. 646, 653. Cited. 189 C. 401,
412. Cited. 191 C. 150, 160. Cited. 192 C. 301, 306. Cited. 193 C. 28, 34. Cited. 198 C. 229, 233, 239. Cited. 206 C. 491−
495. Cited. 208 C. 230, 235. Cited. 210 C. 175, 179. Cited. Id., 721−726, 728, 729, 731−733. Cited. 211 C. 431, 435. Cited.
214 C. 464−467, 470−476. Cited. 216 C. 11, 14. Cited. Id., 412, 413, 416, 417. Cited. 225 C. 13, 18. Cited. 226 C. 831,
836. Cited. 234 C. 169, 180. Cited. 239 C. 265. Cited. Id., 574.
Cited. 7 CA 245, 246, 248. Cited. 11 CA 156, 158. Cited. 18 CA 515−520. Cited. 22 CA 625−627. Cited. 23 CA 404,
406, 407, 409. "... should not be construed so liberally as to render statutes of limitation virtually meaningless." 24 CA
239, 241−243. Cited. 28 CA 653, 659. Cited. 29 CA 132, 137, 138, 139. Cited. 32 CA 187−190. Cited. 34 CA 732, 734,
738. Cited. 41 CA 297, 298. Since section uses "action" and "cause of action", and not "claim", to refer to what is allowed
to be brought under its provisions, trial court incorrectly concluded that savings provisions of section operate only to save
the exact state law claims that were dismissed without prejudice in federal court, but do not permit the bringing of additional
state law claims arising from same set of facts. 49 CA 715. Failure to return complaint for two and one-half years not
diligent as required for application of statute. 50 CA 632.
Cited. 15 CS 310; id., 505; 17 CS 409; 18 CS 482; 20 CS 377. Allegations necessary to bring the matter within the
purview of this section should appear either by anticipation in the complaint or in the reply to a defense of the statute. 17
CS 3. Analogous to section 52-125. Id., 409. Where plea in abatement is sustained, plaintiff may bring new action under
this section notwithstanding the statute of limitations. 18 CS 443. Obvious intention to make statute exceedingly broad
and sweeping in scope. "Any matter of form" refers to mode of procedure. Statute remedial in character. 22 CS 207. Where
plaintiff had brought a timely appeal under section 12-118 which was nonsuited, he is not entitled to rely on this section
to bring a new appeal on the same cause of action after the two-month limitation had run, since the proceeding involving
an appeal under section 12-107c(d) is not the type of action which comes within the saving protection of this section. 26
CS 168. Cited. 29 CS 246. Cited. 33 CS 174, 176. Fact that an abortive action was instituted in Connecticut to appoint an
administrator does not invoke statute so as to shorten period of the general statute of limitation. 36 CS 121, 124−126. Cited.
Id., 269−271. Cited. 40 CS 266, 268.
Where default judgment was rendered for defendant in small claims session on failure of plaintiff to prosecute, default
judgment was a "judgment of nonsuit" and plaintiff could commence new action under this section. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 3, 4.
Whether plaintiff is entitled to pursue his action under this statute presented under pleadings an issue of law properly
determined by court upon defendant's motion for summary judgment. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 487. Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 643, 694.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 192 C. 138, 144. Cited. 210 C. 721, 722. Cited. 214 C. 464, 465, 470, 472. Specifically authorizes commencement
of new action where prior action was dismissed for want of jurisdiction; appellate court judgment in Southport Manor
Convalescent Center, Inc. v. Foley, 20 CA 223, 226, reversed. 216 C. 11, 14, 17. "Original action" means first action filed
within time allowed by applicable statutes of limitations. Id., 412−419. Cited. 236 C. 701, 703. Disciplinary dismissals
are not excluded categorically from relief afforded by statute, and plaintiff claiming benefit of statute must be afforded
opportunity to show that plaintiff's noncompliance with court order was due to mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect.
243 C. 569. Applies to actions otherwise barred by applicable statute of limitations, does not operate to save plaintiff's
action from contractual limitation period for bringing suit. 246 C. 378.
Plaintiff limited to bringing new action within one year from end of original action, not the last action. 11 CA 156−
160. Cited. 22 CA 625, 626. Cited. 23 CA 404, 408. Cited. 24 CA 239, 241, 242. Not device for avoiding rules of res
judicata. 28 CA 653, 656, 658. Cited. 34 CA 732, 734, 736−739.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 32 CA 187, 189, 190.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 8333; P.A. 82-160, S. 252.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
Where defendant in second suit is a street railway company upon whom no process was served in original action, this
statute does not cure lack of statutory notice. 105 C. 96. New action may be brought within one year regardless of originally
applicable statute of limitations. 105 C. 94; 109 C. 460. New action may set up different allegations if cause of action
remains the same. 108 C. 444. Appeal from architectural examining board not a "civil action" within meaning of this
section. 153 C. 124, 125. Cited. 169 C. 646, 653. Cited. 183 C. 504, 505, 507. Cited. 191 C. 150, 160. Cited. 214 C. 464,
476. Cited. 225 C. 13, 18. Cited. 234 C. 169, 180.
Cited. 18 CA 515−520. Cited. 22 CA 625−627. Cited 42 CA 345.
Effect of section on statute of limitations where proper party was sued in corporate rather than individual name. 9 CS
307. The original action was terminated at the date judgments of nonsuit were rendered and not at the date of determination
of later motions to set aside. 31 CS 302. Cited. 33 CS 176. Cited. 40 CS 266, 268.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 22 CA 625, 626.
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(b) In any such case the officer making service shall endorse under oath on such
officer's return the date of delivery of the process to such officer for service in accordance
with this section.
(1967, P.A. 890; P.A. 82-160, S. 253; P.A. 88-317, S. 29, 107; P.A. 00-99, S. 116, 138, 154.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section and inserted Subsec. indicators; P.A. 88-317 inserted "Except in the case
of an appeal from an administrative agency governed by section 4-183," at the beginning of Subsec. (a), effective July 1,
1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; P.A. 00-99 replaced reference to officer
with state marshal and deleted provision re personal delivery to sheriff in Subsec. (a) and made technical changes in Subsec.
(b), effective December 1, 2000.
Cited. 170 C. 5. Cited. 191 C. 150, 160. Cited. 214 C. 464, 466, 475, 476.
Cited. 10 CA 14, 17. Cited. 43 CA 397. Action commences on date that process was delivered to sheriff for service, if
defendant is served within fifteen days of delivery to the sheriff. 53 CA 725.
Appeal to court from decision of administrative agency is cause of action within meaning of this section. 33 CS 172,
176. Service of process which came into hands of deputy sheriff by mail was personally delivered to him within meaning
of this section. Id., 677−679. Cited. 34 CS 565, 566. Cited. 40 CS 299, 301. Cited. 41 CS 425, 426, 428.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 43 CA 397.
Cited. 42 CS 187, 190.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8334; P.A. 82-160, S. 254.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
See Sec. 52-555 re actions for injuries resulting in death.
See Sec. 52-584 re limitation of action for injury to person or property.
Effect of statute. 90 C. 611. Cited. 191 C. 150, 160. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476. Cited. 223 C. 14, 17, 21, 22.
Cited. 3 CA 602, 605. Cited. 43 CA 397.
Cited. 8 CS 362. Statute does not reduce the time within which an action might have been brought had the plaintiff
survived. It adds one year from the date of death to the time otherwise allowable. 15 CS 434. Where one-year period with
respect to antemortem injuries had not expired when decedent died, his personal representative, under this section, had
year from date of death to institute action. 28 CS 461, 463, 464.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8335.)
This was previously the rule in equity proceedings. 19 C. 438. Fraudulent concealment affects surety on bond. 66 C.
64. Statute does not apply to action by receivers against directors of bank for negligence. 89 C. 451. Suspends running of
statutes until right is discovered. 93 C. 558. Must be pleaded specially. 143 C. 31. Cited. 188 C. 301. Cited. 189 C. 162,
182. Cited. 191 C. 150, 160, 162. Cited. 198 C. 660, 661, 665. Cited. 207 C. 204, 213, 215, 216. Cited. 214 C. 242, 243,
245, 256, 250, 252. Cited. 232 C. 527, 532.
Cited. 7 CA 245, 249. Cited. 15 CA 496, 500. Cited. Id., 677, 685. Cited. 16 CA 108, 112. Cited. 19 CA 16, 18−20.
Cited. 31 CA 235, 238, 241. Plaintiff's burden of proof under section discussed. 53 CA 102.
Cited. 17 CS 198. Cited. 42 CS 187, 192, 196.
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(1949 Rev., S. 8336; P.A. 80-182.)
History: P.A. 80-182 added exception re filing of complaint for failure to pay wages with labor commissioner.
Does not apply to severance pay which is not within description of "payment of remuneration for employment payable
periodically." 155 C. 680. Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
Cited and statute of limitations also cited. 11 CA 375, 378, 388, 389. Cited. 16 CA 232, 235, 239. Cited. 43 CA 435.
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(1951, S. 3233d.)
Cited. 214 C. 464, 476.
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(b) No execution to enforce a judgment for money damages rendered in a small
claims session may be issued after the expiration of ten years from the date the judgment
was entered, and no action based upon any such judgment may be instituted after the
expiration of fifteen years from the date the judgment was entered.
(1953, S. 3234d; P.A. 76-59, S. 2; P.A. 77-452, S. 32, 72; P.A. 82-160, S. 255; P.A. 84-317, S. 1, 3.)
History: P.A. 76-59 essentially replaced previous provisions which simply stated "No action based upon a judgment
for money damages which has been rendered in any court of this state shall be instituted after the expiration of twenty-
one years from the date of such judgment, provided no payments have been made on the same during such period"; P.A.
77-452 removed reference to "court of common pleas" small claims sessions in exception, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-
160 rephrased the section and inserted Subsec. indicators; P.A. 84-317 increased the time limitation on executions to
enforce judgment for money damages rendered in small claims court from five to ten years from date judgment was entered
and institution of action based on any such judgment from ten to fifteen years from date judgment was entered.
Cited. 15 CA 752, 757. Cited. 38 CA 44, 52, 56. Cited. 45 CA 543.
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