Sec. 52-236. Actions on contract; evidence of damages since suit. In any action
founded on contract, for the recovery of damages, the plaintiff may offer evidence of
any damages that may have accrued from the same cause of action subsequent to the
bringing of the action, provided he shall have given reasonable notice to the defendant
of the damages which he intends to prove, and may recover judgment for the full amount
of damages he may prove that he has sustained. The plaintiff, upon giving such notice,
may, by leave of the court, increase the statement of amount in demand in the writ
subject to the provisions of sections 52-91 and 52-259.
(1949 Rev., S. 7982; P.A. 82-160, S. 219.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section and deleted a provision which prohibited the plaintiff from increasing his
demand by an amount which would carry it beyond the jurisdiction of the court and replaced it with a provision making
an increase in the amount in demand "subject to the provisions of section 52-91 and section 52-259".
Applies to damage set up under a counterclaim. 64 C. 563. Has no application to a cause of action nonexistent when
the suit was begun. 71 C. 425. Applied to action for breach of covenant in deed by lease not expiring until after action
brought. 87 C. 169. Cited. 225 C. 804.
Cited. 7 CS 247. Action for damages for breach of lease not within scope of a "debt or liquidated demand in money";
authorities reviewed. 17 CS 35. Cited. 37 CS 840.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 284.
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Sec. 52-237. Damages in actions for libel. In any action for a libel, the defendant
may give proof of intention; and unless the plaintiff proves either malice in fact or that
the defendant, after having been requested by the plaintiff in writing to retract the libelous
charge, in as public a manner as that in which it was made, failed to do so within a
reasonable time, the plaintiff shall recover nothing but such actual damage as the plaintiff
may have specially alleged and proved.
(1949 Rev., S. 7983; P.A. 03-19, S. 118.)
History: P.A. 03-19 made technical changes, effective May 12, 2003.
"Malice in fact" defined. 27 C. 27, 28; 106 C. 132. Publishing a false charge of crime against another, in a newspaper,
proves such malice. 30 C. 419. Evidence of special damage. 27 C. 26; 30 C. 419. "Malice in fact" is not malignity or
personal ill will, but an improper and unjustifiable motive. 57 C. 73; 85 C. 24; 88 C. 251. What evidence admissible as a
justification under "proof of intention". 57 C. 92. Circumstances held to justify a finding of "malice in fact". 60 C. 491.
Existence of malice in fact is for the trial court. Id., 493; 87 C. 222. Proof of malice considered in reference to the claim
of a privileged communication. 66 C. 175; 67 C. 510; 81 C. 293; 85 C. 24; 87 C. 220; 91 C. 430; 106 C. 132. Rule of
damages where no special damages proved. 85 C. 23; 79 C. 523; 107 C. 123. Repetition of words as evidence of actual
malice. 86 C. 261. Exemplary damages proper when. 72 C. 731. Privilege. 64 C. 223; 72 C. 335; 78 C. 365; 88 C. 247.
Defendant may testify to motive or feeling prompting his conduct. 91 C. 432. Words libelous per se; presumption of malice
and damages; compensatory and punitive damages where actual malice shown; 92 C. 236; 107 C. 123; effect of privileged
occasion as to malice; actual malice question of fact. 92 C. 331. Cited. 97 C. 38; 106 C. 129. Libel per se against attorney.
Id., 131. Words slanderous per se will support substantial recovery without proof of special damage. 107 C. 123. A charge
of a person having committed a crime is libelous per se, from which the law presumes damage without special proof. 113
C. 580. When a libel is expressed in clear and unambiguous terms, the question whether it is libelous per se is one of law
for the court. 136 C. 557. No basis for appeal where plaintiff failed to make clear objections to charge by court below
concerning effect of statute. 157 C. 507. Cited. 162 C. 388.
Cited. 11 CA 584. Cited. 25 CA 16. Televised news broadcasts could give rise to claim of defamation sounding in libel.
110 CA 283.
If special damages are not alleged, malice in fact must be proved. 15 CS 448. A libel is actionable per se if it charges
improper conduct or lack of skill or integrity in one's profession or business and is of such a nature that it is calculated to cause
injury to one in his profession or business. 22 CS 248. The essential elements of a qualifiedly privileged communication are
good faith, an interest to be upheld, a statement limited in its scope to that purpose, a proper occasion, and publication in
a proper manner to proper parties. Id. Cited. 33 CS 4.
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Sec. 52-238. Damages in actions on penal bonds. (a) In any action on a penal
bond, containing any condition which has been broken, such damages only shall be
assessed as are equitably due, and judgment shall not be rendered for the whole penalty,
unless it appears to be due.
(b) If, upon a bond with conditions the breach of which may happen at different
times, an action is brought upon the first breach, the court, upon finding a forfeiture of
the bond, shall render judgment for what is due in equity at the time, with costs, and award
execution. Upon any further or other breach of condition, the obligee, his executors or
administrators may take out a scire facias against the obligor, his executors or administrators, from the clerk of the court in which the judgment was given, to show cause why
execution should not be awarded for the money then due, or damages then sustained.
The court shall thereupon render judgment for what appears to be due in equity and
grant execution thereon, and may so render judgment and grant execution, from time
to time, until the condition is fully performed. The whole amount of the judgments shall
not exceed the penalty of the bond with interest.
(1949 Rev., S. 7984; P.A. 82-160, S. 222.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section and inserted Subsec. indicators.
A tender of the amount justly due on a bond, though less than its face, is good. 2 C. 662. No judgment can be rendered
on any bond for more than the penalty, with interest. 4 D. 36. Interest on probate bond may run from time of demand. 38
C. 324. Statute does not apply to actions of replevin. 48 C. 140. A technical breach of bond resulting in no damage is not
ground for a new trial. 60 C. 482. Cited. 71 C. 452. Right to chancer a bond exists only where liability is admitted. 72 C.
607. Applies to recognizance or bond made to release attachment. 74 C. 175. Scope of equities considered. Id., 338; 77 C.
70. Applies to obligations of surety. 78 C. 698. When recovery not limited to penalty. 81 C. 252. Same doctrine applied
to penalty stated in injunction. 83 C. 427. Does not apply to criminal bond. Id., 686. Legal interest as measure of damages
where impossible to ascertain profits made by improper use of trust funds. 120 C. 337. To be available in defense to suit
on probate bond, credits for payments to creditors and legatees must have been authenticated by probate court through
settlement of executor's account. 124 C. 111. Cited. 128 C. 322. Damages "equitably due" means "justly due". 148 C.
569. Cited. 177 C. 527.
Cited. 19 CS 130. Recovery limited to amount of bond, with possible addition of interest. Id., 457.
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Sec. 52-239. When broadcasting stations, networks, CATV systems liable for
defamation. The owner, licensee or operator of a visual or sound radio broadcasting
station or network of stations, or the agents or employees of any such owner, licensee
or operator of such a station or network of stations, or the owner, licensee or operator
of a community antenna television system, or the agents or employees of any such owner
of a community antenna television system, shall not be liable for any damages for any
defamatory statement uttered over the facilities of the station, network or community
antenna television system by or on behalf of a candidate for public office or by any other
person. This section shall not apply to any such owner, licensee, operator, agent or
employee who wilfully, knowingly and with intent to defame participates in the broadcast of a defamatory statement.
(1955, S. 3191d; P.A. 75-120; P.A. 82-160, S. 220.)
History: P.A. 75-120 applied provisions to owners, licensees or operators of community antenna television systems
and to their agents or employees; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
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Sec. 52-240. Effect of damages on costs. (a) In any action founded on tort tried
in the Superior Court, if the damages found do not exceed fifty dollars, the plaintiff shall
recover no more costs than damages, subject to the provisions of this section.
(b) If the title to property, or a right-of-way, or to the use of water, is in question,
or if the damages were reduced so as not to exceed fifty dollars by reason of an act of
the defendant pending the action, the plaintiff shall recover full costs.
(c) Judgment for nominal damages upon a hearing after a default or a demurrer
overruled shall entitle the party in whose favor damages are given to the full taxable
costs of the action.
(1949 Rev., S. 7985; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 117; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 53; P.A. 74-183, S. 89, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 135, 681;
P.A. 82-160, S. 127.)
History: 1959 act substituted circuit court for municipal court; 1963 act deleted stipulation section apply only to tort
actions not brought to courts on appeal; P.A. 74-183 removed actions tried in circuit court from purview of section, reflecting
transfer of circuit court functions to court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 removed actions
tried in court of common pleas from purview of section, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-160 rephrased provisions and added Subsec. indicators.
See Sec. 47-41 re consideration of notice as disturbance of right.
The title or right must be so brought in question that the record may show that it was decided. 18 C. 394; 1 R. 525; 52
C. 255; 54 C. 57, 58. If brought up under a plea and notice, it may be sufficient. 21 C. 80. Trespass qu. cl. fr. 21 C. 80; 25
C. 249. Case for diversion of water. 36 C. 151. Payment, pending suit. 19 C. 529; 39 C. 462. Return of property, pending
suit. 1 R. 136. Retrospective law. 30 C. 326. "Default" and "demurrer overruled" have different meanings. 63 C. 266.
Applied where count in tort beyond jurisdiction of court was added to count in tort and verdict was rendered for one dollar
damages; 79 C. 305; and to action on statute for killing registered dog; 80 C. 435; or for bite of dog. 86 C. 710. Though
charter of city gives its court same powers as justices of the peace, this section applies. 80 C. 437. Amendment of 1907
held to apply to pending case. 81 C. 216. Nominal damages. 119 C. 496. Cited. 218 C. 309.
Tort defined. 7 CS 521.
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Sec. 52-240a. Award of attorney's fees in product liability action. If the court
determines that the claim or defense is frivolous, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party in a products liability action.
(P.A. 79-483, S. 7.)
Cited. 187 C. 363. Cited. 210 C. 189. Product liability act cited. Id. Cited. 239 C. 284. Cited. 240 C. 58. "Prevailing
party" defined. Section permits attorneys' fees to be awarded following acceptance of an offer of judgment under Sec. 52-194. 258 C. 299.
P.A. 79-483 (products liability law) cited. 16 CA 558.
Cited. 39 CS 132.
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Sec. 52-240b. Punitive damages in product liability actions. Punitive damages
may be awarded if the claimant proves that the harm suffered was the result of the
product seller's reckless disregard for the safety of product users, consumers or others
who were injured by the product. If the trier of fact determines that punitive damages
should be awarded, the court shall determine the amount of such damages not to exceed
an amount equal to twice the damages awarded to the plaintiff.
(P.A. 79-483, S. 8.)
Cited. 187 C. 363. Cited. 210 C. 189. Product liability act cited. Id. Cited. 212 C. 509. Cited. 221 C. 674. Cited. 241
C. 199. Cited. 243 C. 168.
Cited. 8 CA 642. P.A. 79-483 (products liability law) cited. 16 CA 558. Cited. 43 CA 1.
Legislative meaning attributed to words "claimant" and "harm", in Sec. 52-572m(c) and (d) are sufficiently broad to
permit an award of punitive damages in connection with a product liability claim involving only damage to property. 39
CS 269. Cited. 42 CS 153.
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Secs. 52-241 and 52-242. Municipal courts; costs in contract actions. Costs on
appeal from justice or municipal court. Sections 52-241 and 52-242 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 7986, 7987; 1949, S. 3189d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 204.)
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Sec. 52-243. Costs when plaintiff is partly successful. If a verdict is found on
any issue joined in an action in favor of the plaintiff, costs shall be allowed to him,
though on some other issue the defendant should be entitled to judgment, unless the
court which tried the issue is of the opinion that the defendant had probable cause to
plead the matter found against him.
(1949 Rev., S. 7988; P.A. 82-160, S. 118.)
History: P.A. 82-160 replaced "the cause" with "an action" and rephrased the section.
Practice act changed former method of pleading defenses. 67 C. 377. Cited. 71 C. 198. Cited. 192 C. 301.
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Sec. 52-244. When plaintiff not to recover costs. Costs shall not be recovered
by the plaintiff in any case in which he has begun an action with counts in fraud only
and afterwards amends his complaint by substituting or adding counts in contract. In such
case the defendant shall recover his taxable costs, and the court may, in its discretion, tax
double costs in favor of the defendant.
(1949 Rev., S. 7989; P.A. 82-160, S. 119.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
Cited. 63 C. 370.
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Sec. 52-245. False statement concerning defense. Costs. In any case in which
an affidavit has been filed by the defendant, or a statement that he has a bona fide defense
has been made to the court by his attorney, and the plaintiff recovers judgment, if the
court is of the opinion that such affidavit was filed or statement made without just cause
or for the purpose of delay, it may allow to the plaintiff, at its discretion, double costs,
together with a reasonable counsel fee to be taxed by the court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7990.)
Cited. 186 C. 673.
Cited. 4 CA 669.
Award of double costs and counsel fee under this section is in trial court's discretion and its decision will not be disturbed
on appeal. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 150.
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Sec. 52-246. Costs for service by indifferent person. Costs shall not be taxed,
without the written consent of the defendant, for service by an indifferent person of
process commencing a civil action, if the court before which it is returnable finds that
no sufficient reason existed for the deputation of an indifferent person to serve the
process.
(1949 Rev., S. 7991; P.A. 82-160, S. 120.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
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Sec. 52-247. Officer's fees on foreign attachment when garnishee not cited in.
In any action commenced by process of foreign attachment or garnishment in which
any garnishee is not cited in to disclose, the court may tax and allow, or disallow, all or
any part of the fees of the officer for service of the writ upon the garnishee. The fees,
if disallowed by the court, shall be paid to the officer by the plaintiff.
(1949 Rev., S. 7992; P.A. 82-160, S. 121.)
History: P.A. 82-160 added "or garnishment" after "foreign attachment" and made minor technical changes.
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Sec. 52-248. Costs when there are more civil actions than necessary. When two
or more civil actions are pending in the same court at the same time for the recovery of
the same demand, or against two or more officers, upon receipts for executions arising
from the same original judgment, the court shall not allow any costs in any such action,
unless it is of the opinion that the commencement of all of the actions was necessary to
secure the demand.
(1949 Rev., S. 7993; P.A. 82-160, S. 122.)
History: P.A. 82-160 replaced "suits" with "civil actions" or "actions", and "suit" with "action".
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Sec. 52-249. Costs and attorney's fees in actions for foreclosure and substitution of bond. (a) The plaintiff in any action of foreclosure of a mortgage or lien, upon
obtaining judgment of foreclosure, when there has been a hearing as to the form of
judgment or the limitation of time for redemption, shall be allowed the same costs,
including a reasonable attorney's fee, as if there had been a hearing on an issue of fact.
The same costs and fees shall be recoverable as part of the judgment in any action upon
a bond which has been substituted for a mechanic's lien.
(b) In any foreclosure judgment when a lis pendens had been recorded after a title
search of real property, the court shall determine a reasonable fee to be paid for the
search and tax it as part of the costs.
(1949 Rev., S. 7994; 1969, P.A. 440; P.A. 82-160, S. 123; P.A. 84-282, S. 1; P.A. 99-153, S. 8.)
History: 1969 act added Subsec. (b) re fees for title searches in foreclosure judgments; P.A. 82-160 replaced real "estate"
with real "property"; P.A. 84-282 amended Subsec. (a) to include reasonable attorney's fees as allowable costs; P.A. 99-153 amended Subsec. (a) to allow recovery of costs and attorney's fees in cases where a bond has been substituted for a
mechanic's lien.
In foreclosure, costs thrown on defendant only if he seeks to redeem. 81 C. 442. Cited. 216 C. 85.
Cited. 22 CA 468. According to statute, plaintiff must argue for attorney's fees during foreclosure action. Thus, whether
plaintiff is entitled to attorney's fees under statute is a question of law for court to decide in the foreclosure action. Because
it is a question of law, attorney trial referee cannot decide the issue. 70 CA 404. Attorney's fees under section include fees
incurred on appeal as well as at the trial level. 118 CA 367.
Plaintiff not entitled to counsel fees for protracted trial on plaintiff's claims for contract prices of two jobs and on
defendant's counterclaims of offsets against contract price; there never was a hearing on form of the judgment or the time
of redemption as required under statute. 49 CS 405.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 19 CA 8. In action to foreclose mechanic's lien, plaintiff is not entitled to duplicate attorney's fees under this
section and Sec. 42-150aa but rather may collect under Sec. 42-150aa for contract aspects of action and under this section
for equitable relief. 86 CA 767. Award of attorney's fees proper where court entered judgment of foreclosure in favor of
plaintiff, regardless of whether plaintiff prevailed. 122 CA 686.
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Sec. 52-249a. Costs and attorney's fee in action upon a bond substituted for
a mechanic's lien. A plaintiff who prevails in any action upon a bond which has been
substituted for a mechanic's lien shall be allowed costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.
(P.A. 07-120, S. 1.)
Plaintiff is not entitled to attorney's fees under this section which was enacted after plaintiff filed mechanic's lien and
substituted bond in lieu thereof because legislature is presumed to have intended prospective application only as section
creates a new substantive right and is not merely clarifying legislation. 119 CA 423.
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Sec. 52-250. Costs of application to dissolve injunction. The costs of an application to dissolve an injunction may be allowed and taxed by the court, according to its
discretion, in making the final decree. In any action in which a motion for the dissolution
of a temporary injunction is heard before any judge when the court is not in session, the
judge shall be entitled to be paid a reasonable sum for his time and expenses by the
party moving for the dissolution, which shall be taxed in the bill of costs in the same
manner as other costs in actions for equitable relief.
(1949 Rev., S. 7996; P.A. 82-160, S. 124; P.A. 83-587, S. 63, 96.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section; P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment.
Judgment for costs upon withdrawal is a "final decree". 62 C. 490. The taxation of costs allowable within the discretion
of the court is not reviewable. Id.
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Sec. 52-251. Expenses and counsel fees in action to construe will or for advice
concerning will or trust. In any action brought to a court of equitable jurisdiction for
the construction of a will or for the advice of the court as to the administration of an
estate or trust under a will or trust instrument, by any person acting in a fiduciary capacity
thereunder, there shall be allowed to each of the parties to the proceeding such reasonable
sum for expenses and counsel fees as the court, in its discretion, deems equitable. The
allowance shall be taxed as costs in the action, to be paid out of the estate.
(1949 Rev., S. 7997; 1955, S. 3190d; P.A. 82-160, S. 125.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
Expenses of litigation not payable out of the estate, when. 50 C. 577. After settlement and distribution the executor
cannot maintain a suit for a construction of the will. 60 C. 398. Suit can properly be brought only by an executor or trustee
claiming under the will. 63 C. 309. Provision de expenses and counsel fees is merely declaratory of existing rules of
chancery practice. 65 C. 175. Where decree of lower court in part affirmed, remanding case with directions to enter
judgment, with provision for allowance and costs. Id., 183. The determination of the amount to be allowed for expenses
and counsel fees is a judicial matter for the court; it cannot be left to the clerk or to the parties. 72 C. 32. Cited. Id., 328.
Where suit involved only one-third of estate, costs were imposed on that third. Id., 494. Trial court, in giving judgment,
cannot reserve right to make allowances in case of an appeal. 82 C. 195. Costs taxed against entire estate. 102 C. 508.
Against entire residuary estate. 105 C. 756. Superior court has no power to allow counsel fees in contest over admission
of will. 131 C. 224. No abuse of discretion in amount allowed by court as counsel fees. 137 C. 516. General estate liable
for expenses and counsel fees. If action relates to particular property or fund, equitable principles apply. 141 C. 163.
Appeals from decree of probate court not proceedings embraced within this statute. 153 C. 490, 500. Court may not retain
jurisdiction by stating in its judgment that determination of expense and counsel fee allowance would take place later. 154
C. 352, 362. Expenses and counsel fees of parties not allowed where trustee sought advice as to transactions extraneous
to trust instrument on which claims were based. 157 C. 315. Plea for advice as to distribution of trust renders trust estate
subject to provisions of statute. 160 C. 250. Cited. 161 C. 312. Cited. 183 C. 85. Cited. 212 C. 678.
Cited. 7 CS 235. In action by executor seeking determination of ownership of certain savings accounts, counsel fees
cannot be awarded. 16 CS 391. Counsel fees in action for construction of will not chargeable against portion of will as to
which there is no ambiguity. 17 CS 44. Cited. 42 CS 474.
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Sec. 52-251a. Costs, attorney's fees on small claims matter transferred to regular docket. Whenever the plaintiff prevails in a small claims matter which was transferred to the regular docket in the Superior Court on the motion of the defendant, the
court may allow to the plaintiff his costs, together with reasonable attorney's fees to be
taxed by the court.
(P.A. 73-52; P.A. 74-183, S. 167, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 146, 681.)
History: P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436
replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978.
Cited. 206 C. 542. Cited. 216 C. 85. Cited. 220 C. 162.
Cited. 12 CA 353. Standard of review of award of attorney's fees discussed. 61 CA 60. Court did not abuse its discretion
in determining that $3,500 covered reasonable attorney's fees in case where plaintiff's small claims action was for the
payment of $2,500 in promised bonuses and plaintiff requested $20,874 in attorney's fees. Id. Section expressly limits
recovery to reasonable fees, not the amount that was actually expended. Id. Pro se litigants are not entitled to attorney's
fees. 79 CA 366. Trial court award of attorney's fees to plaintiff upheld in matter that originated in small claims session
but was ultimately transferred to complex litigation docket. Purpose of statute is to deter defendants from transferring a
case from small claims session and turning a relatively clear cut case into a pitched legal battle. 87 CA 687. Does not
require that a party be more sophisticated than the opposing party or that a party prevail on every claim. 95 CA 652.
Cited. 33 CS 609. Court abused its discretion by awarding "reasonable attorneys' fees" of $300 after finding at least
fifty hours of preparation were required and that reasonable rate of compensation for legal services at that time was $40
per hour. 36 CS 619. Cited. 37 CS 574; Id., 873.
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Sec. 52-251b. Costs and attorney's fees in action for deprivation of civil rights.
(a) In any civil action to recover damages for injury to the person or to real or personal
property arising out of a violation of section 46a-58, the court may allow the prevailing
party his costs, together with a reasonable attorney's fee to be taxed by the court.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not be deemed: (1) To
create a new cause of action against any individual, the state or any municipality, or
against any officer, official or employee of the state or any municipality; or (2) to confer
any new jurisdiction upon the Superior Court in any action against any individual, the
state or any municipality or any officer, official or employee thereof.
(P.A. 84-36, S. 1, 2.)
Cited. 204 C. 17. Cited. 216 C. 85.
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Sec. 52-251c. Limitation on attorney contingency fees in personal injury,
wrongful death and property damage actions. Waiver of limitation by claimant.
(a) In any claim or civil action to recover damages resulting from personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property occurring on or after October 1, 1987, the attorney and
the claimant may provide by contract, which contract shall comply with all applicable
provisions of the rules of professional conduct governing attorneys adopted by the judges
of the Superior Court, that the fee for the attorney shall be paid contingent upon, and as
a percentage of: (1) Damages awarded and received by the claimant; or (2) the settlement
amount received pursuant to a settlement agreement.
(b) In any such contingency fee agreement such fee shall be the exclusive method
for payment of the attorney by the claimant and shall not exceed an amount equal to a
percentage of the damages awarded and received by the claimant or of the settlement
amount received by the claimant as follows: (1) Thirty-three and one-third per cent of
the first three hundred thousand dollars; (2) twenty-five per cent of the next three hundred
thousand dollars; (3) twenty per cent of the next three hundred thousand dollars; (4)
fifteen per cent of the next three hundred thousand dollars; and (5) ten per cent of any
amount which exceeds one million two hundred thousand dollars.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a claimant may
waive the percentage limitations of said subsection if the claim or civil action is so
substantially complex, unique or different from other wrongful death, personal injury
or property damage claims or civil actions as to warrant a deviation from such percentage
limitations. Factors that may indicate that a claim or civil action is substantially complex,
unique or different from other wrongful death, personal injury or property damage claims
or civil actions include, but are not limited to, if the claim or civil action (1) involves
complex factual medical or legal issues, (2) involves serious permanent personal injury
or death, (3) is likely to require extensive investigation and discovery proceedings,
including multiple depositions, or (4) requires independent expert witness testimony.
For the purposes of this subsection, "independent expert witness testimony" means
testimony, whether at trial or in a deposition, from an expert who has not participated
in the care of the claimant and has not participated in any official investigation of the
incident involved.
(d) Prior to a claimant entering into a contingency fee agreement that provides for
a fee that exceeds the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section, the attorney
shall (1) explain the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section to the claimant and the reasons the attorney is unable to abide by those limitations; (2) advise the
claimant of the claimant's right to seek representation by another attorney willing to
abide by the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section; and (3) allow the
claimant a sufficient period of time to review the proposed contingency fee agreement
and, if the claimant wishes, seek representation by another attorney prior to entering
into such agreement.
(e) No waiver of the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section shall
be valid unless the contingency fee agreement (1) is in writing, (2) sets forth in full the
fee schedule of subsection (b) of this section, (3) contains a conspicuous statement,
printed in boldface type at least twelve points in size, in substantially the following
form: "I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FEE SCHEDULE SET FORTH IN SECTION
52-251c OF THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES LIMITS THE AMOUNT
OF ATTORNEY'S FEES PAYABLE BY A CLAIMANT AND THAT THE STATUTE WAS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE PORTION OF THE JUDGMENT OR
SETTLEMENT THAT WAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY A CLAIMANT. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT IN ENACTING THAT FEE
SCHEDULE WAS TO CONFER A BENEFIT ON A CLAIMANT LIKE MYSELF, I
KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE THAT FEE SCHEDULE IN THIS
CLAIM OR CIVIL ACTION.", and (4) is signed and acknowledged by the claimant
before a notary public or other person authorized to take acknowledgments.
(f) If a claimant waives the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section
pursuant to this section, in no event shall (1) the total fee under the contingency fee
agreement exceed thirty-three and one-third per cent of the damages awarded and received by the claimant or of the settlement amount received by the claimant, and (2)
the claimant be required to repay any costs that the attorney incurred in investigating
and prosecuting the claim or civil action if there is no recovery.
(g) No fee shall be payable to any attorney who seeks a fee that exceeds the percentage limitations of subsection (b) of this section unless the claimant has waived such
limitations pursuant to this section and the contingency fee agreement complies with
the requirements of subsection (e) of this section.
(h) For the purposes of this section, "damages awarded and received" means in a
civil action in which final judgment is entered, that amount of the judgment or amended
judgment entered by the court that is received by the claimant; "settlement amount
received" means in a claim or civil action in which no final judgment is entered, the
amount received by the claimant pursuant to a settlement agreement; and "fee" shall
not include disbursements or costs incurred in connection with the prosecution or settlement of the claim or civil action, other than ordinary office overhead and expense.
(P.A. 86-338, S. 1; P.A. 87-227, S. 1; P.A. 91-380, S. 1; P.A. 04-257, S. 131; P.A. 05-275, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 87-227 amended Subsec. (a) to change the applicability of the section from "In any claim or civil action
accruing on or after October 1, 1986, seeking damages as compensation for personal injury or wrongful death" to "In any
claim or civil action to recover damages resulting from personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property occurring
on or after October 1, 1987", to require the contract to comply with applicable provisions of the rules of professional
conduct and to replace "damages awarded pursuant to a determination by the trier of fact" with "damages awarded and
received by the claimant" and "amounts pursuant to a settlement agreement" with "settlement amount pursuant to a settlement agreement", amended Subsec. (b) to replace "percentage of the award or settlement amount" with "percentage of the
damages awarded and received by the claimant or of the settlement amount received by the claimant", and added Subsec.
(c) to define "damages awarded and received", "settlement amount received" and "fee"; P.A. 91-380 amended Subsec.
(c) by revising the definitions of "damages awarded and received" and "settlement amount received" to provide that the
amount received by a claimant in a claim or civil action brought pursuant to Sec. 38a-368 shall be reduced by any basic
reparations benefits paid to the claimant pursuant to Sec. 38a-365; P.A. 04-257 attempted to make changes to provisions
added by vetoed P.A. 04-155 and therefore such changes were void and not given effect, and added Subsec. (d) defining
"medical malpractice claim or civil action" and "health care provider", effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 05-275 amended
Subsec. (a)(2) to replace "settlement amount" with "the settlement amount received", amended Subsec. (b) to replace
"arrangement" with "agreement", added new Subsec. (c) authorizing a claimant to waive the percentage limitations of
Subsec. (b) if the claim or civil action is so substantially complex, unique or different from other wrongful death, personal
injury or property damage claims or civil actions as to warrant a deviation from such percentage limitations and specifying
factors that may indicate such complexity, uniqueness or difference, added new Subsec. (d) specifying the responsibilities
of an attorney before a claimant enters into a contingency fee agreement that provides for a fee that exceeds the percentage
limitations of Subsec. (b), added new Subsec. (e) specifying the requirements that a contingency fee agreement must
comply with in order for a waiver of such percentage limitations to be valid, added new Subsec. (f) providing that if the
claimant waives such percentage limitations the amount of the total fee is limited to 33.33% and the claimant is not required
to repay any costs incurred by the attorney if there is no recovery, added new Subsec. (g) prohibiting payment of a fee to
an attorney who seeks a fee that exceeds such percentage limitations unless the claimant has waived such limitations and
the agreement complies with Subsec. (e), redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (h) and amended said Subsec. to
delete from definitions of "damages awarded and received" and "settlement amount received" provision that in a claim or
civil action brought pursuant to Sec. 38a-368 such amount shall be reduced by any basic reparations benefits paid to the
claimant pursuant to Sec. 38a-365 and deleted former Subsec. (d) defining "medical malpractice claim or civil action" and
"health care provider", effective July 13, 2005, and applicable to causes of action accruing on or after that date.
P.A. 86-338 cited. 214 C. 1. Cited. 223 C. 786; Id., 484; Id., 786. Cited. 231 C. 77. Cited. 235 C. 107. Plaintiff's failure
to comply with section does not preclude him from recovering under doctrines of quantum meruit or unjust enrichment,
regardless of whether bad faith by the successor attorney or client's waiver of section has been established. 255 C. 390.
Cited. 28 CA 693. Cited. 43 CA 184. Cited. 45 CA 237. Section intended to regulate the attorney-client relationship
in order to protect plaintiffs from excessive legal fees, and defendant insurer may assert section as a special defense in
action by an attorney for interference with a contractual relation. 48 CA 699.
Benefits of section can be waived. 42 CS 526.
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Sec. 52-251d. Attorney's fees in action to establish paternity or establish, modify or enforce child support orders in TANF cases. (a) In any civil action to establish
paternity or to establish, modify or enforce child support orders in TANF cases pursuant
to sections 17b-745, 46b-86, 46b-160, 46b-171, 46b-172, 46b-215 and 46b-231, the
court may allow the state, when it is the prevailing party, a reasonable attorney's fee.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not be deemed: (1) To
create a new cause of action against any individual; or (2) to confer any new jurisdiction
upon the Superior Court in any action against any individual.
(P.A. 92-253, S. 9; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1, S. 70, 75; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 109, 165; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-7, S. 27, 38.)
History: June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1 deleted reference to Sec. 46b-180 in Subsec. (a) and made a technical change in
Subsec. (b), effective January 1, 1998; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced reference to "AFDC" with "TANF" in Subsec.
(a), effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Sec. 17b-748 with
Sec. 17b-745, effective July 1, 1997.
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Sec. 52-252. Costs for nonappearance of party giving notice of deposition.
When a notice is given to an adverse party or his known agent or attorney, or left at his
usual place of abode, that a deposition will be taken at a certain time and place, and the
adverse party, or his agent or attorney, appears at such time and place for that purpose
and the party giving notice does not appear or for any reason does not take the deposition
at such time and place, costs shall be allowed to the adverse party at the discretion of
the court before which the action is pending.
(1949 Rev., S. 7998; P.A. 82-160, S. 126.)
History: P.A. 82-160 replaced "such" with "the" where appearing.
Decree of probate court not an "action" within meaning of statute. 271 C. 531.
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Sec. 52-253. Costs in suit against manufacturers for nuisance. Costs upon a
complaint against a manufacturer under section 52-481, to abate or discontinue a nuisance, may be taxed at the discretion of the court.
(1949 Rev., S. 7999.)
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Sec. 52-254. Costs in amicable suit. All costs incurred in any amicable suit, under
chapter 908, shall be borne equally by the contesting parties.
(1949 Rev., S. 8000.)
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Sec. 52-255. Costs on motion to expunge. Section 52-255 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8001; P.A. 82-160, S. 259.)
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Sec. 52-256. Transferred to Chapter 900, Sec. 52-195a.
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Sec. 52-256a. (Formerly Sec. 46-27). Award of attorney's and officer's fees in
contempt action. Section 52-256a is repealed.
(1957, P.A. 23; 1959, P.A. 159; P.A. 73-373, S. 43.)
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Sec. 52-256b. Award of attorney's and officer's fees in contempt action. (a)
When any person is found in contempt of any order or judgment of the Superior Court,
the court may award to the petitioner a reasonable attorney's fee and the fees of the officer
serving the contempt citation, such sums to be paid by the person found in contempt.
(b) This section shall not apply to the case of any person found in contempt of an
order of the Superior Court entered under sections 46b-60 to 46b-62, inclusive, 46b-81
to 46b-83, inclusive, or 46b-86, which is provided for under section 46b-87.
(P.A. 76-435, S. 7, 82; P.A. 77-452, S. 27, 72; P.A. 82-160, S. 128.)
History: P.A. 77-452 removed reference to orders or judgments of court of common pleas, reflecting transfer of all trial
jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-160 inserted Subsec. indicators and made minor technical
changes.
Cited. 11 CA 610. Cited. 18 CA 119. Cited. 22 CA 136. Cited. 26 CA 326.
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Sec. 52-257. Fees of parties in civil actions. (a) The fees of parties in civil actions
in which the matter in demand is not less than fifteen thousand dollars shall be: For each
complaint, exclusive of signing and bond, five dollars for the first page and, for each
succeeding page, two dollars; for each judgment file, two dollars for the first page and,
for each additional page, one dollar and fifty cents. The prevailing party in any such
civil action shall receive, by way of indemnity, the following sums: (1) For all proceedings before trial, fifty dollars; (2) for the trial of an issue of law or fact, seventy-five
dollars, but if more than one issue of fact is tried at one time, only one trial fee shall be
allowed; and (3) in difficult or extraordinary cases in the Superior Court, where a defense
has been interposed, a further allowance, in the discretion of the court, not to exceed
two hundred dollars.
(b) Parties shall also receive: (1) For each witness attending court, the witness' legal
fee and mileage; (2) for each deposition taken out of the state, forty dollars, and for each
deposition within the state, thirty dollars; (3) on an application for the sale of property
attached, the expenses incurred; (4) in any civil action affecting the title to real property
situated in this state, or affecting any mortgage or lien thereon, the actual expense, not
exceeding the sum of two hundred twenty-five dollars, of an examination of the land
records concerning the title to the real property in question and such amount as the court
or judge determines to be reasonable for the services of an expert on the value of the
land when such value is in dispute; (5) for maps, plans, mechanical drawings and photographs, necessary or convenient in the trial of any action, a reasonable sum; (6) for
copies of records used in evidence, bonds, recognizances and subpoenas, court and
clerk's fees; (7) for the signing and service of process, the legal fees payable therefor,
except that a fee shall not be allowed for the return of a subpoena to court; (8) the actual
expense incurred in publishing orders of notice under direction of the court; (9) for each
interpreter necessarily employed in the trial of any civil action, twenty dollars per diem;
(10) for premiums upon all bonds or undertakings provided pursuant to statute, rule of
court, order of court or stipulation of parties, including bonds in lieu of or in release or
dissolution of attachment, the actual amount paid, not exceeding a reasonable amount;
(11) documented investigative costs and expenses, not exceeding the sum of two hundred
dollars; and (12) for the recording, videotaping, transcribing and presentation of the
deposition of a practitioner of the healing arts, as defined in section 20-1, dentist, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, as defined
in section 20-87a, or real estate appraiser that is used in lieu of live testimony in the
civil action, the reasonable expenses incurred.
(c) In all civil actions in which the matter in demand is less than fifteen thousand
dollars, the prevailing party shall receive, by way of indemnity, the following sums: (1)
For all proceedings before trial, ten dollars; and (2) for the trial of an issue of fact or
law, fifteen dollars, but, if more than one issue of fact or law is tried at one time, only
one trial fee shall be allowed.
(d) The following sums may be allowed to the prevailing party in causes on appeal,
in the discretion of the court: (1) For all proceedings, one hundred dollars; (2) for expenses actually incurred in printing or photoduplicating copies of briefs, a sum not
exceeding two hundred dollars; and (3) to the plaintiff in error, plaintiff in a cause
reserved, or appellant, as the case may be, the record fee, provided judgment shall be
rendered in his favor. Such costs in the Superior Court in appealed causes and in the
Supreme Court or Appellate Court shall be in the discretion of the court on reservation
of a cause for advice, or when a new trial is granted.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not interfere with the discretion of the court
in taxing costs in actions in which equitable relief is demanded.
(1949 Rev., S. 3602; 1955, S. 1970d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 177; 473, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 125; 1963, P.A. 416, S. 3;
1967, P.A. 89; 1969, P.A. 430; 1971, P.A. 302; P.A. 74-183, S. 157, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 559, 681; P.A. 77-497, S. 5, 6,
7; 77-604, S. 61, 84; P.A. 82-160, S. 129; P.A. 83-295, S. 10; 83-385, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 42, 82; P.A. 95-176, S. 3; P.A. 01-32, S. 2; P.A. 06-156, S. 5.)
History: 1959 acts deleted provisions for appeals from justices of peace and civil actions in town, city and borough
courts and doubled fees of parties in civil actions; 1961 act doubled record fee; 1963 act deleted requirement, in proviso
re record fee, that judgment be finally rendered in his favor; 1967 act removed maximum limitation of $50 for services of
expert in land values, substituting such amount as court or judge determines to be reasonable; 1969 act specified that parties
receive an amount determined by judge to be reasonable for examination of land records rather than the actual expense
(not exceeding $50) of such examination and raised payment for interpreters from $10 to maximum of $20 per diem; 1971
act raised fees for first page of complaint from $3 to $5 and for subsequent pages from $1.50 to $2, raised prevailing
parties' award for all proceeding before trial from $20 to $50, for trial of issue of law or fact from $25 to $75, for further
allowance in difficult cases from $100 to $200, for all proceedings in causes pending in appellate division or supreme
court from $30 to $100 and for expenses of printing brief copies from $100 to $200, doubled allowances for depositions,
restored actual expense of examination of land records as sum allowed but specified maximum of $150 and specified
interpreters' fees as $20, removing reference to lesser amounts; P.A. 74-183 specified applicability of previously existing
provisions to actions in court of common pleas where the ad damnum exceeds $1,000 and in the superior court, replacing
"appellate division" with superior court and removing specified record fee of $50, and added Subsec. (b) re civil actions
returnable to court of common pleas where matter in demand exceeds $100 but is less than $1,000, effective December
31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, deleting references to
court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-497 applied previous dollar limits applicable in common pleas
cases to superior court cases, later raising dollar figure to $7,500, applied provisions to cases where defendant prevails
and deleted provision in Subsec. (b) which had allowed prevailing party $3 as indemnity in all proceedings where matter
in demand is $100 or less; P.A. 77-604 clarified effective date of P.A. 77-497 provisions, i.e. $1,000 limit applies from
October 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978, and $7,500 limit takes effect on July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-160 rephrased and reorganized
section; P.A. 83-295 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to increase from $7,500 to $15,000 the amount in demand which
determines the fees of parties; P.A. 83-385 added Subsec. (b)(11) re documented investigative costs and expenses not
exceeding $200; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 included reference to appellate court; P.A. 95-176 amended Subsec. (d) by
adding reference to "photoduplicating"; P.A. 01-32 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by making a technical change for purposes
of gender neutrality and added Subsec. (b)(12) re receipt of reasonable expenses incurred for the recording, videotaping,
transcribing and presentation of the deposition of certain experts that is used in lieu of live testimony; P.A. 06-156 amended
Subsec. (b)(4) by increasing maximum expense for land records examination from $150 to $225, effective June 6, 2006.
In equity, costs are in discretion of court; 28 C. 466; also where legal and equitable relief sought, but latter prevails;
80 C. 233; but ordinarily they are awarded on same basis as action at law; 119 C. 367. At law, costs are the creature of
statute. 73 C. 614; 81 C. 213; 82 C. 392. "Action" in statute includes one to compel support of parent. 73 C. 608. Action
on statute for penalty. 39 C. 486. Law in force at termination of action controls. 81 C. 213. If no rule for measuring costs
given, court has discretion. 4 C. 80; 67 C. 257; 68 C. 220. Costs go to prevailing party; 39 C. 484; and Practice Act has
not changed this. 67 C. 74. Discretion of court as to costs on probate appeal. 76 C. 654. No costs allowed accused who
prevails on appeal. 82 C. 392. Matter in demand as determining. 57 C. 59. Costs properly taxable where plea in abatement
or to jurisdiction is sustained. 64 C. 74; 82 C. 378. Where plea of tender is joined with general denial. 67 C. 74. In supreme
court; where cases heard together; 70 C. 443; 74 C. 274; when new trial ordered, where costs taxed; 73 C. 475; costs on
plea in abatement or motion to erase; 82 C. 378; Id., 483; costs unnecessarily incurred need not be taxed. 88 C. 260. Where
two distinct causes of action are tried together by mutual agreement, a jury fee and trial fee should be taxed for each cause
of action. 93 C. 659. Costs not taxable in habeas corpus proceeding. 113 C. 740. No costs in mandamus unless return made
and hearing had. 115 C. 98. Where supreme court found error only in inclusion of costs, held sufficient to make appellant
prevailing party. Id., 99. Where no reason for reservation to supreme court other than speedy disposition, costs taxed for
prevailing party. Id., 530. Where party upon reasonable ground sought correction in finding, costs of printing allowed.
130 C. 247. Against policy of supreme court to amend rescript to state no costs against loser. Id. Held proper to allow
defendant costs on counterclaim when he lost on complaint. 131 C. 680. Cited. 136 C. 255. In equity, costs are at discretion
of court. Id., 645. Nonsuit entered on court's own motion. No costs against defendant except for printing evidence. 139
C. 429; 144 C. 21. Where the prevailing defendants shared a common defense, a single counsel, one pleading, one trial
and one judgment, the defendants were entitled to be indemnified only to the extent of a single bill of costs. 166 C. 325.
Statutory authorization of imposition of costs do not apply against the state without specific inclusion thereof. 176 C. 362.
Cited. 187 C. 591. Cited. 188 C. 213. Cited. 204 C. 17. Cited. 205 C. 542. Cited. 215 C. 286. Cited. 240 C. 58.
Municipality is not exempt from the taxation of costs; unlike the state a municipality has no sovereign immunity in
absence of specific statutory exception or prohibition. 4 CA 30, 32. Cited. 18 CA 618. Cited. 25 CA 67. Cited. 35 CA 239.
Sec. 31-51m allows for costs, but does not expressly provide for expert witness fees. Therefore, general cost provisions
of Secs. 52-257 and 52-260 apply, which do not mention nontestimonial costs. Accordingly, the nontestimonial work
performed by plaintiff's economics expert was not taxable as costs. 79 CA 501. Where record did not support defendant's
claim that plaintiff had waived his right to seek costs, and because judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff, he was a
prevailing party and, thus, entitled to costs even though only nominal damages had been awarded. 88 CA 583. Under
Subsec. (b)(4), title search fees are not recoverable costs for prevailing party in a reassessment proceeding. 121 CA 13.
When two or more cases between the same parties are tried together, only one indemnity for trial of issues of fact may
be taxed. 3 CS 85. Cited. 4 CS 167. Cited. 5 CS 330. Cited. 6 CS 208. Witness fees chargeable if witnesses are summoned
in good faith ready to testify. Id., 261. Cited. 7 CS 521. Cited. 8 CS 31; Id., 324. Allowance for searching title cannot be
allowed unless the action is one affecting title or a mortgage or a lien on real estate. 9 CS 425. Former limitation on fees
paid to experts on land did not apply to appraisal fees granted under section 13-150 (now section 13a-76). 21 CS 343.
Cited. 24 CS 391. Cited. 27 CS 288. Usual costs plus two hundred dollar allowance awarded to plaintiff-member of nonstock
corporation who successfully challenged corporation's exclusion of women as members and guests as ultra vires, in case
of first impression; no basis found for awarding attorneys' fees. 33 CS 150. Where the trial of the issues on a counterclaim
involved an action where the ad damnum was in excess of $1,000, Subsec. (a) of this section was the appropriate provision
for taxation of costs. Id., 538.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 15 CA 185.
Subsec. (b):
Subdiv. (5) cited. 215 C. 197.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 15 CA 185. Cited. 37 CA 865.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 225 C. 804, 814.
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Sec. 52-257a. Fees in Circuit Court. Section 52-257a is repealed.
(1959, P.A. 28, S. 37; 1963, P.A. 9; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 130; 1972, P.A. 108, S. 12; 281, S. 32;
P.A. 74-183, S. 280, 291.)
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Sec. 52-258. Jury fees. The jury fee in civil actions shall be four hundred twenty-five dollars to be paid at the time the case is claimed for the jury by the party at whose
request the case is placed upon the jury docket. The jury fee shall be taxed in favor of
the party paying the jury fee in the bill of costs in the action, if final judgment thereon
is rendered in such party's favor.
(1949 Rev., S. 3603; 1953, 1955, S. 1971d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 212; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 40, S. 12; 1972,
P.A. 281, S. 33; P.A. 74-183, S. 90, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 136, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 63, 65; P.A. 80-387, S. 2; P.A. 82-160,
S. 130; P.A. 83-577, S. 3; P.A. 89-219, S. 3, 10; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 84, 117; P.A. 97-309, S. 12, 23; 97-322, S.
7, 9; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 103; P.A. 09-152, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act included circuit court; 1967 act increased jury fee from $20 to $30 for jury of six and from $50 to
$100 for jury of twelve; 1971 act deleted provisions re fees for juries of twelve, the option for full jury having been repealed;
1972 act raised jury fee from $30 to $40, effective September 1, 1972; P.A. 74-183 removed circuit court actions from
scope of section, reflecting transfer of circuit court functions to court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A.
76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court by deleting specific reference to actions
in superior court or court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 raised jury fee to $45, effective July 1,
1978; P.A. 80-387 raised fee to $60, effective October 1, 1980; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section; P.A. 83-577 raised fee
from $60 to $80; P.A. 89-219 raised fee to $100; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised fee to $250; P.A. 97-309 increased fee
to $300, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-322 changed effective date of P.A. 97-309 but without affecting this section; May
9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 raised fee from $300 to $350, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 09-152 substituted $425 for $350 re jury
fee and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2009.
Requirement that defendant in paternity action pay jury fee did not deprive him of fundamental right. 170 C. 367. Cited.
Id., 367.
Cited. 28 CA 693.
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Sec. 52-259. Court fees. (a) There shall be paid to the clerks for entering each
appeal or writ of error to the Supreme Court, or entering each appeal to the Appellate
Court, as the case may be, two hundred fifty dollars, and for each civil cause in the
Superior Court, three hundred dollars, except (1) one hundred seventy-five dollars for
entering each case in the Superior Court in which the sole claim for relief is damages
and the amount, legal interest or property in demand is less than two thousand five
hundred dollars and for summary process, landlord and tenant and paternity actions,
and (2) there shall be no entry fee for making an application to the Superior Court for
relief under section 46b-15 or for making an application to modify or extend an order
issued pursuant to section 46b-15. If the amount, legal interest or property in demand
by the plaintiff is alleged to be less than two thousand five hundred dollars, a new entry
fee of seventy-five dollars shall be charged if the plaintiff amends his or her complaint
to state that such demand is not less than two thousand five hundred dollars.
(b) The fee for the entry of a small claims case shall be seventy-five dollars. If a
motion is filed to transfer a small claims case to the regular docket, the moving party
shall pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars.
(c) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests
that a matter be designated as a complex litigation case the sum of three hundred twenty-five dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(d) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests
a finding of fact by a judge of such court to be used on appeal the sum of twenty-five
dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(e) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of seventy-five dollars
for a petition for certification to the Supreme Court and Appellate Court.
(f) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for receiving and filing an
assessment of damages by appraisers of land taken for public use or the appointment
of a commissioner of the Superior Court, two dollars; for recording the commission and
oath of a notary public or certifying under seal to the official character of any magistrate,
ten dollars; for issuing a certificate that an attorney is in good standing, ten dollars;
for certifying under seal, two dollars; for exemplifying, twenty dollars; for making all
necessary records and certificates of naturalization, the fees allowed under the provisions
of the United States statutes for such services; and for making copies, one dollar a page.
(g) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for a copy of a judgment
file a fee of twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the fees for certification and copying, for
a certified copy and a fee of fifteen dollars, inclusive of the fee for copying, for a copy
which is not certified; and for a copy of a certificate of judgment in a foreclosure action,
as provided by the rules of practice and procedure, twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the
fees for certification and copying.
(h) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of one hundred
seventy-five dollars at the time any application for a prejudgment remedy is filed.
(i) A fee of twenty dollars for any check issued to the court in payment of any fee
which is returned as uncollectible by the bank on which it is drawn may be imposed.
(j) The tax imposed under chapter 219 shall not be imposed upon any fee charged
under the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 3604; 1955, S. 1972d; November, 1955, S. N195; 1957, P.A. 57, S. 1; 385, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 199; 544;
670, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 3; P.A. 74-183, S. 158, 291; P.A. 75-530, S. 4, 35; P.A. 76-368, S. 6, 9; 76-436, S. 560, 681;
P.A. 77-347, S. 9, 11; 77-497, S. 3, 7; 77-576, S. 62, 65; 77-604, S. 61, 70, 84; P.A. 78-379, S. 18, 27; P.A. 79-574; P.A.
80-387, S. 1; P.A. 81-129, S. 2; 81-472, S. 92, 159; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 26, 32; 81-6, S. 2, 4; P.A. 82-325, S. 3,
6, 7; P.A. 83-196; 83-577, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 11, 82; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 8; P.A. 85-548, S. 5;
P.A. 88-103, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-219, S. 4, 10; 89-251, S. 189, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 76, 117; P.A. 93-396, S. 7;
P.A. 94-135, S. 3; P.A. 95-176, S. 4; P.A. 97-309, S. 13, 23; 97-322, S. 7, 9; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 104; P.A. 03-2, S. 43; 03-278, S. 102; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 13; P.A. 09-152, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 135; P.A. 10-43,
S. 17.)
History: 1959 acts added exception to charge for second judgment after judgment reopened for cases where reopening
was for court error in prior judgment and where court reopened on own motion, added fee for foreclosure by sale, raised
entry fee in supreme and superior courts from $16 to $22 and in court of common pleas from $16 to $20; 1967 act increased
entry fee in supreme and superior courts to $45 and in common pleas court to $30, eliminated fees for recording judgments,
taking recognizance or bond for prosecution or special bail, signing writs of habeas corpus, making records, taking bail
bonds and furnishing copies and for orders of notice, and further provided for furnishing copy of judgment to parties
without charge; P.A. 74-183 applied $45 fee paid to superior or supreme court clerks to appeals, reduced fee for entering
civil cause in common pleas court from $30 to $20 and added provision re payment of record fee in appeals from common
pleas court to superior court, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 75-530 clarified fee provisions, imposed $20 entry fee in
appeals from common pleas court to superior court and deleted provision which had specified that there is no charge for
one plain or certified copy of judgment to any party to the action, effective June 30, 1975; P.A. 76-368 raised fees for
entering civil causes and entry fee in appeals from common pleas court to superior court by $5 each, effective July 1, 1976;
P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of common pleas court functions to superior court, deleting provisions
previously applicable to actions in common pleas court, and added provisions re cases where entry fee is $20 and re new
entry fee for amended addendum, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-347 raised new entry fee from $45 to $50 and substituted
"ad damnum" for "addendum" in provision added by P.A. 76-436 and added provisions re fees for entry and transfer of
small claims cases, effective July 1, 1978, through June 30, 1979; P.A. 77-497 restated provision re new entry fee to refer
to amended complaint rather than amended ad damnum, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 raised all fees, except fee for
entry of small claims case, record fees in appeals to superior court appellate session and various fees associated with
documentation by $5, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-604 made technical correction; P.A. 78-379 reduced record fee in
appeals to superior court appellate session from $30 to $25, correcting a mistake resulting from misreading of P.A. 77-576, and specified that tax imposed under Ch. 219 does not apply to fees charged under section, effective July 1, 1978;
P.A. 79-574 based fees on amount, legal interest or property in demand equally $2,500 rather than $7,500, effective October
1, 1979; P.A. 80-387 raised most fees, except those for appeals to superior court appellate session or for finding of fact or
for various charges associated with documentation and except fee for entry of small claims case (raised from $6 to $8),
by $5, effective October 1, 1980; P.A. 81-129 increased the fee for the entry of a small claims case from $8 to $10; P.A.
81-472 made technical changes; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 raised fees for entering appeal to supreme court from $60 to
$75, for entering appeal to superior court in exception from $35 to $45, for new entry fee in amended complaint from $60
to $75, for transfer of small claims case to regular docket from $35 to $45 and for entry of appeal in appellate session of
superior court from $30 to $45; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-6 added Subsec. (b) re collection fees in non-AFDC support cases;
P.A. 82-325 changed effective date of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-6, S. 2 from January 27, 1982, to 60 days following effective
date of regulations adopted to effectuate purposes of Subsec. (b) enacted by that act and revised effective date of certain
sections of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 as well but without affecting this section; P.A. 83-196 amended Subsec. (b) by changing
"shall impose" to "may impose", deleting provisions re computation of amount of collection fee and adding provision that
collection fee be in an amount necessary to meet the cost of providing support services and paid by person against whom
the support order was issued; P.A. 83-577 raised fees for appeal to the supreme court from $75 to $100, for civil actions
from $60 to $90, for civil actions where the sole claim is for damages and the amount in demand is less than $2,500 and
summary process, landlord and tenant, paternity and support actions from $45 to $55, and for small claims cases from $10
to $20; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 added reference to appellate court, deleted reference to appellate session of the superior
court and deleted provision re entry fee of $45 in Subsec. (a); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 amended Subsec. (a) by providing
the entry fee for a small claims case which is a housing matter shall be $15; P.A. 85-548 amended Subsec. (b) to make
imposition of fee mandatory rather than discretionary to describe fee as an "application" fee and to provide for determination,
payment and reimbursement of such fee which shall not exceed $25, deleting prior provisions specifying that "collection"
fee should meet the cost of providing support services and should be paid by person against whom an order of support was
issued; P.A. 88-103 added Subsec. (a)(2) exempting applications to superior court for relief under Sec. 46b-15 from entry
fee; P.A. 89-219 raised fees for appeal to the supreme court or appellate court from $100 to $150, for civil actions from
$90 to $125, for civil actions where the sole claim is for damages and the amount in demand is less than $2,500 and
summary process, landlord and tenant, paternity and support actions from $55 to $60, and for small claims cases from $15
to $20 for any housing matter and from $20 to $25 for any other matter; P.A. 89-251 amended Subsec. (b) to increase the
maximum fee from $25 to $30; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec. (a) to increase various fees and to add fees for
a copy of a judgment file, certification and copying an application for a prejudgment remedy; P.A. 93-396 deleted former
Subsec. (b) concerning the state imposition of application fees in non-AFDC child support cases; P.A. 94-135 imposed
fee of $75 for petition for certification to supreme court and appellate court and fee of $20 for exemplifying and deleted
record fee for appeals to appellate court; P.A. 95-176 added fee for entering writ of error to Supreme Court, eliminated
$75 fee for entering support action, added provision of no entry fee for application to modify or extend order issued under
Sec. 46b-15 and authorized $20 fee for check to court in payment of fee returned as uncollectible by bank; P.A. 97-309
increased fee for civil cause in Superior Court from $150 to $185, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-322 changed effective
date of P.A. 97-309 but without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 raised fee for entry of a small claims case
from $30 to $35 and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-2 established fee of $250 for filing a request
that a matter be designated as a complex litigation case and increased fee for a civil cause in Superior Court from $185 to
$220, a civil cause in which the sole claim for relief is damages and the amount, legal interest or property in demand is
less than $2,500 and for summary process, landlord and tenant and paternity actions from $75 to $120, a certified copy of
a judgment file from $15 to $25, an uncertified copy of a judgment file from $10 to $15, a copy of a certificate of judgment
in a foreclosure action from $20 to $25, and an application for a prejudgment remedy from $50 to $100, effective February
28, 2003; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes, effective July 9, 2003; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 increased fee for entering
each civil cause in the Superior Court from $220 to $225, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 09-152 divided existing provisions
into Subsecs. (a) to (j), amended Subsec. (a) to substitute $300 for $225 re civil cause, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute
$325 for $250 re complex litigation cases, amended Subsec. (h) to substitute $175 for $100 re prejudgment remedy applications, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to increase
entry fee from $120 to $175 and amended Subsec. (b) to increase small claims fees from $35 to $75 and from $75 to $125,
effective September 9, 2009; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (f) to add fee of $10 for issuing certificate that attorney is in
good standing.
Cited. 135 C. 412. Cited. 194 C. 43. Cited. 223 C. 68. Cited. 237 C. 758.
Cited. 15 CA 185.
Cited. 8 CS 31.
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Sec. 52-259a. Exemptions from certain fee requirements. (a) Any member of
the Division of Criminal Justice or the Division of Public Defender Services, any employee of the Judicial Department, acting in the performance of such employee's duties,
the Attorney General, an assistant attorney general, the Consumer Counsel, any attorney
employed by the Office of Consumer Counsel within the Department of Public Utility
Control, the Department of Revenue Services, the Commission on Human Rights and
Opportunities, the Freedom of Information Commission, the Board of Labor Relations,
the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the Office of the
Victim Advocate or the Department of Social Services, or any attorney appointed by
the court to assist any of them or to act for any of them in a special case or cases, while
acting in such attorney's official capacity or in the capacity for which such attorney was
appointed, shall not be required to pay the fees specified in sections 52-258, 52-259, and
52-259c, subsection (a) of section 52-356a, subsection (a) of section 52-361a, section 52-367a, subsection (b) of section 52-367b and subsection (n) of section 46b-231.
(b) (1) The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall not be required to pay
any fees specified in section 52-259 for any certified copy of any criminal record.
(2) The Office of the Federal Public Defender shall not be required to pay any fees
specified in section 52-259 for any certified copy of any criminal record.
(3) An employee of the United States Probation Office, acting in the performance
of such employee's duties, shall not be required to pay any fee specified in section 52-259 for any certified copy of any criminal record.
(1959, P.A. 170; 1967, P.A. 515, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 19, S. 1; P.A. 74-183, S. 159, 291; P.A. 76-180, S. 2; 76-436, S. 561,
681; P.A. 77-404; 77-614, S. 164, 610; P.A. 79-334, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-482, S. 338, 348; 80-483, S. 134, 186; P.A. 83-8; 83-385, S. 1, 3; 83-581, S. 38, 40; P.A. 86-403, S. 115, 132; P.A. 88-22, S. 5; P.A. 89-32; 89-144, S. 16; P.A. 90-213, S. 37,
56; P.A. 92-239, S. 2, 3; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 77, 117; P.A. 97-203, S. 19, 20; P.A. 01-91, S. 18; 01-211, S. 11;
P.A. 02-132, S. 77; P.A. 03-2, S. 44; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 14; P.A. 08-47, S. 1; P.A. 10-43, S. 18.)
History: 1967 act added prosecuting and assistant prosecuting attorneys and assistant public defenders; 1969 act exempted attorney general and assistant attorney general from fee requirements; P.A. 74-183 deleted reference to fees specified in Sec. 52-257a, that section having been repealed; P.A. 76-180 exempted consumer counsel and attorneys employed
by office of consumer counsel from fee requirements; P.A. 76-436 replaced exemption for the various state's attorneys,
prosecuting attorneys and public defenders with exemption for any member of criminal justice division or public defenders
services, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-404 exempted attorneys employed by commission on human rights and opportunities from fee requirements; P.A. 77-614 replaced office of consumer counsel with division of consumer counsel within
the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-334 exempted attorneys employed by freedom
of information commission from fee requirements; P.A. 80-482 placed division of consumer counsel within newly created
department of public utility control and abolished the department of business regulation; P.A. 80-483 made technical
grammatical correction; P.A. 83-8 included attorneys employed by the state board of labor relations within the fee exemption
provisions of this section; P.A. 83-385 exempted members of the family division of the superior court from the fee requirements and included fees specified in Sec. 52-259c among the fees certain attorneys employed by the state are not required
to pay; P.A. 83-581 included fees specified in Secs. 52-356a(a) and 52-361a(a) among fees certain attorneys are not required
to pay; P.A. 86-403 added reference to Sec. 46b-231(n); P.A. 88-22 substituted office of consumer counsel for division
of consumer counsel; P.A. 89-32 exempted attorneys employed by the office of protection and advocacy for handicapped
and developmentally disabled persons from the fee requirement; P.A. 89-144 substituted the office of protection and
advocacy for persons with disabilities for the office of protection and advocacy for handicapped and developmentally
disabled persons; P.A. 90-213 added provision concerning the support enforcement division; P.A. 92-239 added Subsec.
(b) re exemption of immigration and naturalization service from the payment of fees for copies of criminal records; May
Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 52-269; (Revisor's note: In 1997 the words "Division
of" were inserted editorially by the Revisors in the phrase "Division of Public Defender Services" for consistency with
customary statutory usage); P.A. 97-203 amended Subsec. (a) to add attorneys employed by the Department of Revenue
Services, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 01-91 changed "Support Enforcement Division" to "Support Enforcement Services"
in Subsec. (a); P.A. 01-211 amended Subsec. (a) to add attorneys employed by the Office of the Victim Advocate and
make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "the Family
Division or Support Enforcement Services of the Superior Court" with "any employee of the Judicial Department, acting
in the performance of such employee's duties", adding reference to Sec. 52-259d and making technical changes, effective
June 7, 2002; P.A. 03-2 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt any attorney employed by the Department of Social Services from
fee requirements and included fees specified in Secs. 52-367a and 52-367b(b) among fees certain attorneys and employees
are not required to pay, effective February 28, 2003; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference
to Sec. 52-259d that was repealed by the same act, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 08-47 amended Subsec. (b) to designate
existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and insert Subdiv. (2) re exemption of Federal Public Defender from payment of fees
for certified copies of criminal records, effective July 1, 2008; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (3) re
exemption of employee of United States Probation Office from payment of fee for certified copy of criminal record.
Cited. 152 C. 503. Cited. 154 C. 631.
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Sec. 52-259b. Waiver of fees and payment of the cost of service of process for
indigent party. (a) In any civil or criminal matter, if the court finds that a party is
indigent and unable to pay a fee or fees payable to the court or to pay the cost of service
of process, the court shall waive such fee or fees and the cost of service of process shall
be paid by the state.
(b) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person is indigent and unable to
pay a fee or fees or the cost of service of process if (1) such person receives public
assistance, or (2) such person's income after taxes, mandatory wage deductions and
child care expenses is one hundred twenty-five per cent or less of the federal poverty
level. For purposes of this subsection, "public assistance" includes, but is not limited
to, state-administered general assistance, temporary family assistance, aid to the aged,
blind and disabled, supplemental nutrition assistance and Supplemental Security
Income.
(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the court from finding that a person whose
income does not meet the criteria of subsection (b) of this section is indigent and unable
to pay a fee or fees or the cost of service of process. If an application for the waiver of
the payment of a fee or fees or the cost of service of process is denied, the court clerk
shall, upon the request of the applicant, schedule a hearing on the application.
(Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 28, 32; P.A. 82-325, S. 3, 7; P.A. 90-261, S. 14, 19; P.A. 99-119; P.A. 04-76, S. 40; P.A.
09-9, S. 31.)
History: P.A. 82-325 changed effective date of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 but without affecting this section; P.A. 90-261 made provisions of section applicable "In any civil or criminal matter"; P.A. 99-119 designated existing provisions
as Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) establishing a rebuttable presumption of indigency if certain criteria are met, and added
Subsec. (c) providing that nothing precludes a court from finding a person whose income does not meet such criteria is
indigent and requiring the court clerk upon the applicant's request to schedule a hearing on an application for a fee waiver
that has been denied; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to "general assistance"; P.A. 09-9 amended
Subsec. (b) by replacing "food stamps" with "supplemental nutrition assistance" and making a technical change, effective
May 4, 2009.
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Sec. 52-259c. Fee to open, set aside, modify, extend or reargue judgment. (a)
There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court upon the filing of any motion to
open, set aside, modify or extend any civil judgment rendered in Superior Court a fee
of seventy-five dollars for any housing matter, a fee of seventy-five dollars for any small
claims matter and a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars for any other matter, except
no fee shall be paid upon the filing of any motion to open, set aside, modify or extend
judgments in juvenile matters or orders issued pursuant to section 46b-15 or upon the
filing of any motion pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46b-63. Such fee may be
waived by the court.
(b) Upon the filing of a motion to open or reargue a judgment in any civil appeal
rendered by the Supreme Court or Appellate Court or to reconsider any other civil matter
decided in either court, the party filing the motion shall pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars.
(Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 27, 32; P.A. 82-325, S. 1, 3, 7; P.A. 83-577, S. 4; P.A. 89-219, S. 5, 10; May Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-6, S. 78, 117; P.A. 93-178; 93-396, S. 8; P.A. 95-176, S. 5; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 105; P.A. 03-2, S. 45;
03-130, S. 5; P.A. 09-152, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 136.)
History: P.A. 82-325 rephrased the section, specified that the fee was payable upon the filing of the motion and that it
applied to motions concerning "civil" judgments, made an exception for judgments in small claims and juvenile matters
and provided that the section was applicable to fees payable on or after February 1, 1982; P.A. 83-577 raised fee from $15
to $25; P.A. 89-219 retained fee of $25 for any housing matter and increased fee from $25 to $50 for any other matter;
May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees and added new Subsecs. (b) and (c) concerning payment of
fees upon the filing of motions for contempt and exceptions from those fees in child support cases; P.A. 93-178 deleted
former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re the fee for filing a motion for contempt and an exception from the fee in child support cases;
P.A. 93-396 would have made Subsec. (c) applicable to non-IV-D support cases, but failed to take effect since P.A. 93-178 took precedence; P.A. 95-176 amended Subsec. (a) by applying provisions to extensions of judgments and to specify
that no fee will be charged re orders issued pursuant to Sec. 46b-15 and added Subsec. (b) re $60 fee for filing motion to
open, reargue or reconsider judgment in appeal rendered by Supreme or Appellate Court; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 raised
filing fees for matters other than housing from $60 to $70, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-2 amended Subsec. (a) to delete
exemption from filing fee for a motion to open, set aside, modify or extend judgments in small claims matters and impose
a fee of $25 upon the filing of such a motion, effective February 28, 2003; P.A. 03-130 amended Subsec. (a) by adding
provision re filing of any motion pursuant to Sec. 46b-63(b); P.A. 09-152 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to substitute $125
for $70 re fees, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee for housing matters
from $35 to $75, and to increase fee for small claims matters from $25 to $75, effective September 9, 2009.
Cited. 196 C. 517. Cited. 223 C. 68. Cited. 224 C. 263.
Cited. 10 CA 669. Cited. 31 CA 260.
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Sec. 52-259d. Additional fee for civil causes. Section 52-259d is repealed, effective July 1, 2004.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 10, 131; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 112.)
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Sec. 52-260. Witness fees. (a) The fees of a witness for attendance before any
court, the General Assembly or any committee thereof, when summoned by the state,
or before any legal authority, shall be fifty cents a day, and for travel to the place of
trial, except as provided in section 54-152, shall be the same amount per mile as provided
for state employees pursuant to section 5-141c. Whenever a garnishee is required to
appear before any court, such garnishee shall receive the same fees as a witness in a
civil action and be paid in the same manner. The clerk of the Superior Court, upon
request, shall, on the day of attendance, pay the fee of any witness summoned by the
state to appear before the court.
(b) When any regular or supernumerary police officer or any regular, volunteer or
substitute firefighter of any town, city or borough is summoned to testify in any criminal
proceeding pending before the Superior Court or the Department of Consumer Protection and the police officer or firefighter receives no compensation from the town, city
or borough by which he is employed for the time so spent by him, the police officer or
firefighter shall be allowed and paid one hundred dollars, together with the mileage
allowed by law to witnesses in criminal cases, for each day he is required to attend the
proceedings.
(c) When any regular or supernumerary police officer or any regular or substitute
firefighter is summoned to testify in his capacity as a police officer or firefighter in any
court in a civil action and the police officer or firefighter receives no compensation from
the municipality by which he is employed for the time he is in attendance at court, there
shall be allowed and paid to the police officer or firefighter a witness fee of one hundred
dollars, together with the mileage allowed by law to witnesses in criminal cases, for
each day he is required to attend court. If the police officer or firefighter testifies in any
such proceeding or civil action on a vacation day or compensatory day off, he shall
be paid the sum of one hundred dollars, together with the mileage allowed by law,
notwithstanding the fact that he is receiving compensation for such day from the town,
city or borough by which he is employed.
(d) The amounts paid under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be taxed as
a part of the costs, and shall be in lieu of all other witness fees payable to such police
officer or firefighter.
(e) When any person is confined in a community correctional center upon the allegation of the state's attorney that he will be a material witness in a pending criminal
proceeding, he shall receive, in addition to his legal fees as a witness, two dollars for
each day that he is so confined.
(f) When any practitioner of the healing arts, as defined in section 20-1, dentist,
registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, as defined in section 20-87a, psychologist or real estate appraiser gives expert testimony in
any action or proceeding, including by means of a deposition, the court shall determine
a reasonable fee to be paid to such practitioner of the healing arts, dentist, registered
nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, psychologist or real
estate appraiser and taxed as part of the costs in lieu of all other witness fees payable
to such practitioner of the healing arts, dentist, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, psychologist or real estate appraiser.
(g) When any public accountant licensed under chapter 389 is subpoenaed by any
party, other than the state, to testify in his capacity as a public accountant in any action
or proceeding, the court shall determine a reasonable fee to be paid to the public accountant and such fee shall be paid by the party issuing such subpoena.
(h) The fees of any witness summoned by a party other than the state to testify in any
action or proceeding shall be paid to the witness by such party on the day of attendance of
such witness.
(1949 Rev., S. 3611; 1953, S. 1975d; 1957, P.A. 56; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 41; 1967, P.A. 273; 889; 1969, P.A.
297; 397; 720; P.A. 73-596; P.A. 74-183, S. 91, 291; P.A. 75-479, S. 3, 25; P.A. 76-436, S. 137, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 165,
610; P.A. 78-289, S. 3; P.A. 80-190, S. 12; 80-482, S. 4, 170, 191, 339, 345, 348; P.A. 82-160, S. 131; 82-378; P.A. 83-251; P.A. 85-127; P.A. 86-182; P.A. 95-195, S. 82, 83; P.A. 00-45; P.A. 01-32, S. 1; 01-84, S. 4, 26; 01-186, S. 7; June
30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; 04-232, S. 1; P.A. 05-45, S. 1; P.A. 10-178, S. 5.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete references to criminal court of common pleas, its criminal jurisdiction having been
abolished; 1967 acts provided compensation for policemen testifying in circuit court and added provision re fees paid to
physicians or real estate appraisers for expert testimony; 1969 acts substituted "community correctional center" for "jail",
referred to practitioners of healing arts and dentists rather than to physicians in provision added in 1967 re fees for expert
testimony, authorized compensation for policemen summoned to testify "in any proceeding pending before the juvenile
court", specified that policeman receives minimum witness fee if his attendance is required for less than four hours rather
than two hours and added provision re fee paid to policeman summoned to testify on his regular day(s) off; P.A. 73-596
clarified applicability of provisions concerning policemen to firemen; P.A. 74-183 substituted court of common pleas for
circuit court in provision re fees paid to policemen and firemen, reflecting transfer of circuit court functions to common
pleas court, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 75-479 replaced previous provisions which had based witness payments
to policemen and firemen on their salaries and had applied only when they were not compensated for serving as witnesses
by the town, city or borough employing them with provisions for payment of set fee of $20 regardless of whether or not
employing town, city or borough is also compensating them and imposed same fee for serving as witness on days off where
previously compensation for service on such days was a minimum witness fee "equivalent to the payment for eight hours'
attendance"; P.A. 76-436 divided section into Subsecs. and removed references to proceedings in court of common pleas
or juvenile court, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced
liquor control commission with division of liquor control within the department of business regulation in Subsec. (b),
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-289 raised witness fee for policemen and firemen from $20 to $40 and deleted former
Subsec. (e) which had allowed witnesses summoned under Sec. 54-26 fee of $2 per day and $0.10 per mile for travel to
and from court, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 80-190 deleted reference to proceedings before coroner
in Subsec. (b); P.A. 80-482 made division of liquor control an independent department following abolition of department
of business regulation, cancelling provision of the act which would have placed the division within the department of
public safety; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section; P.A. 82-378 amended Subsec. (b) to include witness fees for volunteer
firemen; P.A. 83-251 added Subsec. (g) re fees for licensed public accountants; P.A. 85-127 amended Subsec. (f) to
authorize payment of witness fees for registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; P.A. 86-182 amended Subsec. (g) to
replace "subpoenaed by an adverse party" with "subpoenaed by any party"; P.A. 95-195 substituted Department of Consumer Protection for Department of Liquor Control in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-45 amended Subsec.
(a) to replace the fee for travel to the place of trial of $0.10 a mile with provision that the fee "shall be the same amount
per mile as provided for state employees pursuant to section 5-141c", to delete provision that a witness in a criminal trial
shall receive for travel at said rate for one day only and for each day thereafter for travel shall be paid only his actual
traveling expenses, not exceeding $0.10 a mile, to delete provision that prohibited fees being allowed to bystanders called
as witnesses in criminal trials, and to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-32 amended
Subsec. (f) to replace "is summoned to give expert testimony" with "gives expert testimony", include the giving of expert
testimony "by means of a deposition" and make provisions applicable to testimony by an advanced practice registered
nurse; P.A. 01-84 amended Subsec. (f) to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 01-186 amended Subsec.
(a) by adding "except as provided in section 54-152" as exception re travel expenses for witnesses summoned by the state
or before any legal authority; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection
with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June
30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective
June 1, 2004; P.A. 04-232 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to increase the fees paid to police officers and firefighters from
$40 to $100 and amended Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, to make technical changes; P.A. 05-45 amended Subsec. (f) to
make provisions applicable to a psychologist who gives expert testimony, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 10-178 added Subsec.
(h) to require fees of witness summoned by a party other than the state to be paid on day of attendance.
Cited. 219 C. 204.
Agreement to pay witness more than legal fees will not ordinarily be enforced; exceptional cases considered. 26 CS
463. Statute, as amended, read in conjunction with Sec. 48-12, as amended, entitled property owner to reasonable appraisal
fees in condemnation proceedings. 27 CS 288. Cited. 37 CA 865. Legal experts are not included within enumeration of
the categories of experts entitled to discretionary award of expert witness fees. 78 CA 760. Sec. 31-51m allows for costs,
but does not expressly provide for expert witness fees. Therefore, general cost provisions of Sec. 52-257 and this section
apply, which do not mention nontestimonial costs. Accordingly, nontestimonial work performed by plaintiff's economics
expert was not taxable as costs. 79 CA 501. Expert witness fees for roofing consulting firms are not enumerated under
section and cannot be awarded as part of a claim under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. 113 CA 509. Court
improperly awarded expert witness fees for construction experts in claim under Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
121 CA 105.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 188 C. 213. Cited. 236 C. 710. Cited. 239 C. 708. Fee charged by an expert for time spent in preparation for his
or her deposition treated as a taxable cost. 286 C. 234. Trial court may not award costs for nontestimonial work performed
by expert witness. 289 C. 61.
Cited. 45 CA 305. Nothing in legislative history indicates that legislature's use of term "costs" in either Sec. 31-51m
or 31-51q was intended to authorize court to award prevailing party the cost of an economist. Further, because an economist
is not a listed expert witness whose cost may be reimbursed under general provisions of subsection, plaintiff's expert
economist's testimonial fees cannot be reimbursed. 79 CA 501. Invoices submitted by defendant for expert witness fees
were not sufficient on their own to establish that the costs stated therein were "reasonable". 113 CA 339.
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Sec. 52-261. Fees and expenses of officers and persons serving process or performing other duties. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and section
52-261a, each officer or person who serves process, summons or attachments shall
receive a fee of not more than thirty dollars for each process served and an additional
fee of thirty dollars for the second and each subsequent service of such process, except
that such officer or person shall receive an additional fee of ten dollars for each subsequent service of such process at the same address or for notification of the office of the
Attorney General in dissolution and postjudgment proceedings if a party or child is
receiving public assistance. Each such officer or person shall also receive the fee set by
the Department of Administrative Services for state employees for each mile of travel,
to be computed from the place where such officer or person received the process to the
place of service, and thence in the case of civil process to the place of return. If more
than one process is served on one person at one time by any such officer or person, the
total cost of travel for the service shall be the same as for the service of one process
only. Each officer or person who serves process shall also receive the moneys actually
paid for town clerk's fees on the service of process. Any officer or person required to
summon jurors by personal service of a warrant to attend court shall receive for the first
ten miles of travel while so engaged, such mileage to be computed from the place where
such officer or person receives the process to the place of service, twenty-five cents for
each mile, and for each additional mile, ten cents. For summoning any juror to attend
court otherwise than by personal service of the warrant, such officer or person shall
receive only the sum of fifty cents and actual disbursements necessarily expended by
such officer or person in making service thereof as directed. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for summoning grand jurors, such officer or person shall receive
only such officer's or person's actual expenses and such reasonable sum for services
as are taxed by the court. The following fees shall be allowed and paid: (1) For taking
bail or bail bond, one dollar; (2) for copies of writs and complaints, exclusive of endorsements, one dollar per page, not to exceed a total amount of nine hundred dollars in any
particular matter; (3) for endorsements, forty cents per page or fraction thereof; (4) for
service of a warrant for the seizure of intoxicating liquors, or for posting and leaving
notices after the seizure, or for the destruction or delivery of any such liquors under
order of court, twenty dollars; (5) for the removal and custody of such liquors so seized,
reasonable expenses, and twenty dollars; (6) for the levy of an execution, when the
money is actually collected and paid over, or the debt or a portion of the debt is secured
by the officer, fifteen per cent on the amount of the execution, provided the minimum
fee for such execution shall be thirty dollars; (7) on the levy of an execution on real
property and on application for sale of personal property attached, to each appraiser,
for each half day of actual service, reasonable and customary expenses; (8) for causing
an execution levied on real property to be recorded, fees for travel, twenty dollars and
costs; (9) for services on an application for the sale of personal property attached, or in
selling mortgaged property foreclosed under a decree of court, the same fees as for
similar services on executions; (10) for committing any person to a community correctional center, in civil actions, twenty-one cents a mile for travel, from the place of the
court to the community correctional center, in lieu of all other expenses; and (11) for
summoning and attending a jury for reassessing damages or benefits on a highway, three
dollars a day. The court shall tax as costs a reasonable amount for the care of property
held by any officer under attachment or execution. The officer serving any attachment
or execution may claim compensation for time and expenses of any person, in keeping,
securing or removing property taken thereon, provided such officer shall make out a
bill. The bill shall specify the labor done, and by whom, the time spent, the travel, the
money paid, if any, and to whom and for what. The compensation for the services shall
be reasonable and customary and the amount of expenses and shall be taxed by the court
with the costs.
(b) Each officer or person shall receive the following fees: (1) For service of an
execution on a summary process judgment, not more than fifty dollars; and (2) for
removal under section 47a-42 of a defendant or other occupant bound by a summary
process judgment, and the possessions and personal effects of such defendant or other
occupant, not more than seventy-five dollars per hour.
(1949 Rev., S. 3622; 1953, S. 1979d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 178; 152, S. 75; 615, S. 10; 1961, P.A. 122; 311; February,
1965, P.A. 574, S. 42; 1969, P.A. 297; P.A. 74-183, S. 92, 291; P.A. 75-479, S. 1, 25; P.A. 81-80, S. 1; 81-410, S. 5; P.A.
82-160, S. 132; P.A. 91-350, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11, S. 60, 65; P.A. 99-157, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S.
69, 131; P.A. 03-224, S. 10.)
History: 1959 acts deleted provisions for attending trials before justice of the peace and excepted state employees in
classified service from payment for arrest in criminal cases; 1961 acts added proviso setting cost of travel at same amount
where one, or more than one, process is served on one person at one time and added fee for setting prisoner at bar of circuit
court for trial on indictment or information; 1965 act deleted reference to setting prisoner at bar of criminal court of common
pleas, its criminal jurisdiction having been abolished; 1969 act substituted "community correctional center" for "jail"; P.A.
74-183 removed reference to personal service of warrant summoning juror "under the provisions of section 51-230" and
replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, reflecting transfer of circuit court functions to common pleas court,
effective December 1, 1974; P.A. 75-479 amended provisions to add proviso allowing increased mileage allowance where
more than one prisoner is transported at same time and to delete reference to fee for setting prisoner at bar of superior court
or court of common pleas for trial on one indictment or information; P.A. 81-80 increased the fee for service of process
to not more than $20 for each process served and an additional $5 for the second and each subsequent defendant upon
whom process is served, increased the fee for copies of writs and complaints from $0.60 to $1.00 per page; increased the
fee for levying an execution from 3% to 6% on the amount of execution and exempted officers or persons who serve
process for the state or transport prisoners from the provisions of this section, deleting former provisions re fees for
transporting and holding prisoners, etc.; P.A. 81-410 eliminated provision re fee of 2% of execution when execution is
levied on the body of the debtor and he is committed to a community correctional center; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section
and inserted Subdiv. indicators; P.A. 91-350 added "summons or attachments" after "process", increased fee for second
and subsequent defendant upon whom process is served from $5 to $10, increased fee for travel from $0.20 to $0.21 for
each mile, deleted fee of $0.20 for serving summons or attachment by reading or copy, added limit of $900 in any particular
matter for fees for copies of writs and complaints, increased fee for service of warrant and seizure of liquor from $1.00 to
$20, increased the fee for removal and custody of seized liquor from $1.00 to $20, increased the fee for levying an execution
from 6% to 10% of the amount of execution and added a minimum fee of $20, deleted specific fees for levy of execution
on real property and added "reasonable and customary expenses", increased fee for recording execution on real property
from $0.50 to $20 and costs, increased fee for committing person to correctional center in civil actions from $0.20 to $0.21
a mile for travel and changed the compensation for services of property held by any officer under attachment or execution
from "fixed on the basis of two dollars per hour" to "reasonable and customary"; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11 changed
travel allowance from $0.21 per mile to fee set by Department of Administrative Services for state employees per mile,
effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-157 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. to add exception
re Subsec. (b) and make provisions gender neutral and added new Subsec. (b) to establish maximum fee of $50 for service
of an execution on a summary process judgment and $75 per hour for removal of a tenant or occupant and such tenant's
or occupant's property after a summary process judgment; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee
for service of process, summons or attachment from $20 to $30, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-224 amended Subsec. (a)
by making technical changes, increasing fee for second and each subsequent service of process from $10 to $30, adding
provision re additional $10 fee for subsequent service of process at the same address or notification of the office of the
Attorney General re party or child receiving public assistance and, in Subdiv. (6), adding "or a portion of the debt is",
deleting "to the acceptance of the creditor", increasing percentage amount of execution from 10% to 15% and increasing
minimum fee from $20 to $30, effective July 2, 2003.
See Sec. 12-162(c) re fees for execution of alias tax warrant.
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Sec. 52-261a. Fees and expenses of officers and persons serving process or
performing other duties for the Judicial Department or Division of Criminal Justice. (a) Any process served by any officer or person for the Judicial Department or
Division of Criminal Justice shall be served in accordance with the following schedule
of fees:
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, each officer or person
who serves process shall receive a fee of not more than thirty dollars for the service of
such process on a person and an additional fee of ten dollars for the service of such
process on each additional person.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, in addition to the fee
set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each officer or person who serves process
shall receive, for each mile of travel, the same amount per mile as provided for state
employees pursuant to section 5-141c, to be computed from the place where such officer
or person received the process to the place of service, and thence in the case of civil
process to the place of return, provided, if more than one process is served on one person
at one time by any such officer or person, the total cost of travel for such service shall
be the same as for the service of one process only.
(3) Each officer or person who serves process to enforce the obligation of an attorney
pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 51-81d shall receive twenty cents
for each mile of travel, to be computed from the place where such officer or person
received the process to the place of service, and thence to the place of return.
(4) Each officer or person who serves process shall also receive the moneys actually
paid for town clerk's fees on the service of process.
(5) Any officer or person required to summon jurors by personal service of a warrant
to attend court shall receive for the first ten miles of travel while so engaged, such
mileage to be computed from the place where such officer or person receives the process
to the place of service, twenty-five cents for each mile, and for each additional mile,
ten cents.
(6) For summoning any juror to attend court otherwise than by personal service of
the warrant, such officer or person shall receive only the sum of fifty cents and actual
disbursements necessarily expended by such officer or person in making service thereof
as directed.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for summoning grand jurors,
such officer or person shall receive only such officer's or person's actual expenses and
such reasonable sum for services as are taxed by the court.
(c) The following fees shall be allowed and paid: (1) For taking bail or bail bond,
one dollar; (2) for copies of writs and complaints, exclusive of endorsements, sixty cents
per page; (3) for endorsements, forty cents per page or fraction thereof; (4) for service
of a warrant for the seizure of intoxicating liquors, or for posting and leaving notices
after the seizure, or for the destruction or delivery of any such liquors under order of
court, one dollar; (5) for the removal and custody of such liquors so seized, reasonable
expenses and one dollar; (6) for levying an execution, when the money is actually collected and paid over, or the debt secured by the officer to the acceptance of the creditor,
three per cent on the amount of the execution; (7) on the levy of an execution on real
property and on application for sale of personal property attached, to each appraiser,
for each half day of actual service, two dollars, to surveyors when necessarily employed,
four dollars per day and to each chain bearer necessarily employed, two dollars per
day, which sums, with those paid to the town clerk, shall be, by the officer levying the
execution, endorsed thereon, together with such officer's own fees; (8) for causing an
execution levied on real property to be recorded, fees for travel and fifty cents; (9)
for services on an application for the sale of personal property attached, or in selling
mortgaged property foreclosed under a decree of court, the same fees as for similar
services on executions; (10) for committing any person to a community correctional
center, in civil actions, twenty cents a mile for travel, from the place of the court to the
community correctional center, in lieu of all other expenses; and (11) for summoning
and attending a jury for reassessing damages or benefits on a highway, three dollars a day.
(d) The court shall tax as costs a reasonable amount for the care of property held
by any officer under attachment or execution. The officer serving any attachment or
execution may claim compensation for time and expenses of any person, in keeping,
securing or removing property taken thereon, provided such officer shall make out a
bill. The bill shall specify the labor done and by whom, the time spent, the travel, the
money paid, if any, and to whom and for what. The compensation for the services shall
be fixed on the basis of two dollars per hour and the amount of expenses and shall be
taxed by the court with the costs.
(e) The following fees shall be allowed and paid, except to state employees in the
classified service: (1) For each arrest in criminal cases, one dollar and fifty cents; (2)
for any necessary assistants in making criminal arrests, a reasonable sum, the necessity
of such assistance to be proved by the oath of the officer; (3) for travel with a prisoner
to court or to a community correctional center, forty cents a mile, provided (A) if more
than one prisoner is transported at the same time, the total cost of travel shall be forty
cents per mile for each prisoner transported up to a maximum of two dollars per mile,
regardless of the number of prisoners transported, and (B) if a prisoner is transported
for commitment on more than one mittimus, the total cost of travel shall be the same
as for the transportation of one prisoner committed on one mittimus only; (4) for holding
a prisoner in custody upon criminal process for each twelve hours or fraction thereof,
to be taxed as expenses in the case, one dollar; (5) for holding a prisoner in custody by
order of court, one dollar a day; (6) for keepers, for every twelve hours, in lieu of all
other expenses, except in special cases to be approved by the court, five dollars; (7)
for executing a mittimus of commitment to the Connecticut Correctional Institution,
Somers, for each prisoner, one dollar and fifty cents; (8) for transporting any prisoner
from a community correctional center to the Connecticut Correctional Institution, Somers, or for transporting any person under commitment from a community correctional
center to the John R. Manson Youth Institution, Cheshire, twenty-five cents a mile, to
be taxed as expenses, provided, if more than one prisoner or person is transported,
the total cost of travel shall be twenty-five cents per mile for each prisoner or person
transported up to a maximum of one dollar per mile, regardless of the number of prisoners
or persons transported; (9) for taking samples to a state chemist by order of court, two
dollars, and for each mile of travel in going and returning, ten cents; (10) for service of
a mittimus to commit to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, necessary expenses
and a reasonable compensation; and (11) for producing any prisoner, held by criminal
process, in court or before a judge under habeas corpus proceedings, twenty-five cents
a mile travel and two dollars and fifty cents a day for attendance, to be taxed and allowed
by the court or judge.
(P.A. 81-80, S. 2; P.A. 82-160, S. 133; P.A. 86-186, S. 17; P.A. 88-279, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-329, S. 13, 14; P.A. 99-26, S.
23, 39; P.A. 02-28, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section, inserted Subdiv. indicators and deleted "or the Connecticut School for
Boys" after "Long Lane School"; P.A. 86-186 changed the name of the Connecticut Correctional Institution, Cheshire to
the John R. Manson Youth Institution, Cheshire; P.A. 88-279 limited applicability to process served by judicial department
or division of criminal justice where previously applicability was stated to be for any process served for the state; P.A. 93-329 increased fee for serving a summons in support enforcement cases to $20, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 99-26 replaced
"Long Lane School" with "the Connecticut Juvenile Training School", effective upon the filing with the Governor and
the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new Connecticut
Juvenile Training School is operational (Revisor's note: Said written certification was filed with the Senate and House
Clerks on September 20, 2001, and with the Governor on September 21, 2001); P.A. 02-28 divided section into Subsecs.
(a) to (e), adding subdivision designators and making technical changes throughout, deleted provisions re $0.20 for each
mile of travel and added provisions re fee of not more than $30 and additional fee of $10 in Subsec. (a)(1), added provisions
re mileage amount as provided for state employees in Subsec. (a)(2), added provisions re $0.20 for each mile of travel for
service of process to enforce obligation of an attorney in Subsec. (a)(3) and deleted provisions re fee of $0.20 for serving
summons or attachment by reading or copy and fee of $20 for serving summons in support enforcement cases in Subsec. (c).
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Sec. 52-262. Fees for signing process, administering oaths, acknowledgments.
Any person legally authorized, except when otherwise provided and except for judges,
prosecutors and clerks of court, shall be paid the following fees: (1) For signing an
attachment, summons, warrant or subpoena, taking a bond or recognizance or an affidavit, or administering an oath out of court, ten cents; (2) for taking the acknowledgment
of any instrument, or signing and issuing a subpoena or capias, twenty-five cents; and
(3) for causing notices of the seizure of intoxicating liquors to be posted, or issuing an
order for their destruction, fifty cents.
(1949 Rev., S. 3635; 1959, P.A. 473, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 4; P.A. 82-160, S. 134.)
History: 1959 act doubled fee for issuing execution and deleted fees for drawing complaint and warrant for an informing
officer, for each succeeding page and for issuing and issuing a mittimus; 1967 act excepted payment to judges, prosecutors
and clerks and deleted fee for issuing execution; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section and inserted Subdiv. indicators.
Cited. 196 C. 451.
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