CHAPTER 925
STATUTORY RIGHTS OF ACTION AND DEFENSES
Table of Contents
Sec. 52-557b. "Good samaritan law". Immunity from liability for emergency medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection. School personnel not required to administer or render.
Sec. 52-557n. Liability of political subdivision and its employees, officers and agents. Liability of members of local boards and commissions.
Sec. 52-557q. Immunity from liability of broadcaster that broadcasts emergency alert and information concerning child abduction. Immunity from liability of outdoor advertising establishment.
Sec. 52-560. Damages for cutting trees, timber or shrubbery.
Sec. 52-564. Treble damages for theft.
Sec. 52-568. Damages for groundless or vexatious suit or defense.
Sec. 52-570b. Action for computer-related offenses.
Sec. 52-572h. Negligence actions. Doctrines applicable. Liability of multiple tortfeasors for damages.
Sec. 52-557b. "Good samaritan law". Immunity from liability for emergency
medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection. School personnel not required to administer or render. (a) A person licensed to practice medicine and surgery
under the provisions of chapter 370 or dentistry under the provisions of section 20-106
or members of the same professions licensed to practice in any other state of the United
States, a person licensed as a registered nurse under section 20-93 or 20-94 or certified
as a licensed practical nurse under section 20-96 or 20-97, a medical technician or any
person operating a cardiopulmonary resuscitator or an automatic external defibrillator,
or a person trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in the use of an automatic external
defibrillator in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Red Cross or
American Heart Association, who, voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the
ordinary course of such person's employment or practice, renders emergency medical
or professional assistance to a person in need thereof, shall not be liable to such person
assisted for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from acts or omissions
by such person in rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions
constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence. Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to exempt paid or volunteer firefighters, police officers or emergency medical
services personnel from completing training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in the
use of an automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the standard set forth by the
American Red Cross or American Heart Association. For the purposes of this subsection,
"automatic external defibrillator" means a device that: (1) Is used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart; (2) contains internal decision-making
electronics, microcomputers or special software that allows it to interpret physiologic
signals, make medical diagnosis and, if necessary, apply therapy; (3) guides the user
through the process of using the device by audible or visual prompts; and (4) does not
require the user to employ any discretion or judgment in its use.
(b) A paid or volunteer firefighter or police officer, a teacher or other school personnel on the school grounds or in the school building or at a school function, a member
of a ski patrol, a lifeguard, a conservation officer, patrol officer or special police officer
of the Department of Environmental Protection, or emergency medical service personnel, who has completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the
American Heart Association, the National Ski Patrol, the Department of Public Health
or any director of health, as certified by the agency or director of health offering the
course, and who renders emergency first aid to a person in need thereof, shall not be
liable to such person assisted for civil damages for any personal injuries which result
from acts or omissions by such person in rendering the emergency first aid, which may
constitute ordinary negligence. No paid or volunteer firefighter, police officer or emergency medical service personnel who forcibly enters the residence of any person in
order to render emergency first aid to a person whom such firefighter, police officer or
emergency medical service personnel reasonably believes to be in need thereof shall be
liable to such person for civil damages incurred as a result of such entry. The immunity
provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful
or wanton negligence.
(c) An employee of a railroad company, including any company operating a commuter rail line, who has successfully completed a course in first aid, offered by the
American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the National Ski Patrol, the
Department of Public Health or any director of health, as certified by the agency or
director of health offering the course, and who renders emergency first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a person in need thereof, shall not be liable to such person
assisted for civil damages for any personal injury or death which results from acts or
omissions by such employee in rendering the emergency first aid or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this
subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton
negligence.
(d) A railroad company, including any commuter rail line, which provides emergency medical training or equipment to any employee granted immunity pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section shall not be liable for civil damages for any injury sustained
by a person or for the death of a person which results from the company's acts or omissions in providing such training or equipment or which results from acts or omissions
by such employee in rendering emergency first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this subsection
does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence.
(e) (1) For purposes of this subsection, "cartridge injector" means an automatic
prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment used to deliver
epinephrine in a standard dose for emergency first aid response to allergic reactions.
(2) Any volunteer worker associated with, or any person employed to work for, a
program offered to children sixteen years of age or younger by a corporation, other
than a licensed health care provider, that is exempt from federal income taxation under
Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding
internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, who (A) has
been trained in the use of a cartridge injector by a licensed physician, physician's assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse, (B) has obtained the consent
of a parent or legal guardian to use a cartridge injector on his or her child, and (C) uses
a cartridge injector on such child in apparent need thereof participating in such program,
shall not be liable to such child assisted or to such child's parent or guardian for civil
damages for any personal injury or death which results from acts or omissions by such
worker in using a cartridge injector which may constitute ordinary negligence. The
immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting
gross, wilful or wanton negligence.
(3) A corporation, other than a licensed health care provider, that is exempt from
federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or
any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to
time amended, which provides training in the use of cartridge injectors to any volunteer
worker granted immunity pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not be
liable for civil damages for any injury sustained by, or for the death of, a child sixteen
years of age or younger who is participating in a program offered by such corporation,
which injury or death results from acts or omissions by such worker in using a cartridge
injector, which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence.
(f) A teacher or other school personnel, on the school grounds or in the school
building or at a school function, who has completed both a course in first aid in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and a course given by the medical advisor of
the school or by a licensed physician in the administration of medication by injection,
who renders emergency care by administration of medication by injection to a person
in need thereof, shall not be liable to the person assisted for civil damages for any injuries
which result from acts or omissions by the person in rendering the emergency care of
administration of medication by injection, which may constitute ordinary negligence.
The immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting
gross, wilful or wanton negligence.
(g) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require any teacher or
other school personnel to render emergency first aid or administer medication by injection.
(h) Any person who has completed a course in first aid offered by the American
Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the National Ski Patrol, the Department
of Public Health or any director of health, as certified by the agency or director of health
offering the course, or has been trained in the use of a cartridge injector by a licensed
physician, physician's assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse,
and who, voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the ordinary course of such
person's employment or practice, or is an identified staff member of a before or after
school program, day camp or day care facility as provided in section 19a-900, renders
emergency assistance by using a cartridge injector on another person in need thereof,
shall not be liable to such person assisted for civil damages for any personal injuries
which result from acts or omissions by such person in using a cartridge injector, which
may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this subsection does
not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence. For the
purposes of this subsection, "cartridge injector" has the same meaning as provided in
subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this section.
(1963, P.A. 205; 1967, P.A. 282; 878; 1969, P.A. 785; 1971, P.A. 729; P.A. 75-132; 75-456, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-225; 77-349, S. 3; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-122, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-160, S. 224; 82-286; P.A. 83-375, S. 2; P.A. 84-546, S. 119,
173; P.A. 86-237, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-589, S. 34, 87; P.A. 89-149; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-62, S. 1; P.A. 99-181, S. 13; P.A. 00-196, S. 36; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 37, 58; P.A. 03-211, S. 10; P.A. 04-221, S.
27; P.A. 05-144, S. 1; 05-259, S. 6.)
History: 1967 acts added registered nurses, firemen, policemen and ambulance personnel; 1969 act applied provisions
to persons certified as licensed practical nurses under Sec. 20-96 or 20-97; 1971 act added reference to completion of first
aid course offered by American Heart Association; P.A. 75-132 applied provisions to members of ski patrols; P.A. 75-456
applied provisions to lifeguards, conservation officers and patrolmen or special policemen of environmental protection
department; P.A. 77-225 clarified licensees under chapter 370 as persons licensed "to practice medicine and surgery", and
applied provisions to dentists and to teachers and other school personnel while on school grounds, in school building or
at school function; P.A. 77-349 applied provisions to medical technicians, persons operating cardiopulmonary resuscitator
and persons trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation pursuant to standards of American Red Cross or American Heart
Association; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health where appearing, effective
January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-122 referred to first aid courses offered by directors of health rather than those offered by municipal
health departments and added Subsec. (b) re teachers and school personnel who have completed recognized first aid course;
P.A. 82-160 redesignated part of former Subsec. (a) as a new Subsec. (b) and relettered the remaining Subsecs. accordingly
and rephrased the section; P.A. 82-286 amended Subsec. (a) to provide immunity from civil damages for any fireman or
policeman who forcibly enters residence to render emergency first aid; P.A. 83-375 amended Subsec. (a), providing that
ambulance personnel who enter residences to render emergency aid shall be immune from liability for civil damages
resulting from entry; P.A. 84-546 made technical change, moving provisions re firemen's and policemen's immunity from
Subsec. (a) to Subsec. (b); P.A. 86-237 granted immunity to railroad companies and employees for ordinary negligence
committed while rendering aid and granted immunity to railroad companies for ordinary negligence committed while
training employees to render aid; P.A. 87-589 made technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 89-149 amended Subsec. (b) to
include a course in first aid offered by the National Ski Patrol; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with
department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995;
P.A. 98-62 amended Subsec. (a) to include persons trained in the use of an automatic external defibrillator and added a
definition thereof; P.A. 99-181 amended Subsec. (c) by allowing an employee to take a course in first aid offered by the
American Heart Association, the National Ski Patrol, the Department of Public Health or any certified director of public
health, in addition to a course offered by the American Red Cross, and by making technical changes; P.A. 00-196 made
technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (e); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4 amended Subsec. (b) by changing "fireman" to
"firefighter", "policeman" to "police officer", "patrolman" to "patrol officer" and "ambulance personnel" to "emergency
medical service personnel"; P.A. 03-211 added new Subdiv. (e) re immunity for use of a cartridge injector by volunteer
workers and for corporations that provide training in the use of cartridge injectors and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e)
and (f) as new Subsecs. (f) and (g), effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (e)(2) by adding "or any person
employed to work for"; P.A. 05-144 added Subsec. (h) re immunity from civil liability for rendering emergency assistance
by using a cartridge injector; P.A. 05-259 amended Subsec. (a) to extend immunity to any person who operates an automatic
external defibrillator during an emergency and to specify that such immunity does not exempt paid or volunteer firefighters,
police officers or emergency medical services personnel from completing training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in
the use of an automatic external defibrillator, effective July 13, 2005.
Sec. 52-557n. Liability of political subdivision and its employees, officers and
agents. Liability of members of local boards and commissions.
Plaintiff's statutory negligence claims were barred by governmental immunity. 87 CA 353.
Summary judgment granted for municipal defendants in matter where plaintiff alleged that defendant's failure to timely
respond to 911 call and provide effective medical care resulted in her son's death. Plaintiff unable to invoke imminent
harm/identifiable person exception to defendant's claimed governmental immunity because decedent was not identifiable
nor was the harm imminent. 49 CS 200.
Subsec. (a):
Trial court properly struck plaintiffs' negligence claim where plaintiffs claimed that city's negligence in failing to
ensure security of the building after city had taken the property by eminent domain resulted in plaintiffs property being
stolen and destroyed. Pursuant to Subdiv. (2)(B) city cannot be held liable for the actions of its employees pertaining to
security of the property. 88 CA 1.
Sec. 52-557q. Immunity from liability of broadcaster that broadcasts emergency alert and information concerning child abduction. Immunity from liability
of outdoor advertising establishment. No claim for damages shall be made against a
broadcaster, as defined in subsection (l) of section 12-218, or an outdoor advertising
establishment, as described in the United States Department of Labor Standard Industrial
Classification System Code 7312, that, pursuant to a voluntary program between broadcasters and law enforcement agencies, or between law enforcement agencies and outdoor
advertising establishment, broadcasts or disseminates an emergency alert and information provided by a law enforcement agency concerning the abduction of a child including, but not limited to, a description of the abducted child, a description of the suspected
abductor and the circumstances of the abduction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) limit or restrict in any way any legal protection a broadcaster or outdoor
advertising establishment may have under any other law for broadcasting, outdoor advertising or otherwise disseminating any information, or (2) relieve a law enforcement
agency from acting reasonably in providing information to the broadcaster or outdoor
advertising establishment.
(P.A. 03-111, S. 1; P.A. 05-210, S. 33.)
History: P.A. 05-210 provided immunity for outdoor advertising establishment.
Sec. 52-560. Damages for cutting trees, timber or shrubbery.
Trial court properly determined that replacement cost of trees was not a proper measure of damages. 275 C. 105.
Sec. 52-564. Treble damages for theft.
Liability for conversion is a precondition to finding of liability for treble damages under section. 86 CA 527.
Sec. 52-568. Damages for groundless or vexatious suit or defense.
Plaintiff's vexatious litigation claim based on defendant's filing of an adversary proceeding in Bankruptcy Court is
preempted by federal bankruptcy law that provides sanctions for filing frivolous and malicious pleadings. 86 CA 596.
Court adopted Indiana Court of Appeals' articulation of objective standard of probable cause: Standard which should
govern the reasonableness of attorney's action in instituting litigation for a client is whether claim merits litigation against
defendant in question on the basis of facts known to the attorney when suit is commenced; on the basis of the facts known
to the law firm, a reasonable attorney familiar with the law of this state would believe that applicable statutes of limitation
could be tolled by fraudulent concealment on the part of Retirement Centers. 89 CA 459.
Sec. 52-570b. Action for computer-related offenses.
Subsec. (e):
Meaning of "who prevails" discussed. 86 CA 527.
Sec. 52-572h. Negligence actions. Doctrines applicable. Liability of multiple
tortfeasors for damages.
Statute applies only to negligence actions and not to claims based on recklessness. 86 CA 728. Purpose of apportionment
statute is to prevent any defendant from paying more than his or her share of award and permits inclusion on verdict form
of defendant who has received a directed verdict in his favor, allowing jury to apportion liability to him even though he
is relieved of obligation to pay. 90 CA 766.