Connecticut Case Commentaries

State v. Franqui: Corroboration Limits Newsome and Reaffirms Substantive Use of Whelan Statements and Excited Utterances

Date: Apr 21, 2026

State v. Franqui: Corroboration Limits Newsome and Reaffirms Substantive Use of Whelan Statements and Excited Utterances I. Introduction In State v. Franqui (Conn. Apr. 21, 2026), the Supreme Court...

Dodge v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (Conn. 2026) — Employer’s § 31-293(a) Lien Reaches Tort Settlements Attributable to Nonoccupational Causation When a Single Occupational Disease Is Fully Compensable

Date: Apr 20, 2026

Employer’s § 31-293(a) Lien Reaches Tort Settlements Attributable to Nonoccupational Causation When a Single Occupational Disease Is Fully Compensable 1. Introduction Case: Elizabeth M. Dodge,...

State v. Franqui: Familiar-Witness Identifications Do Not Trigger Plain-Error Reversal for Omitted Ledbetter Instructions; No Blanket Mandatory Eyewitness Charge

Date: Apr 20, 2026

State v. Franqui: Familiar-Witness Identifications Do Not Trigger Plain-Error Reversal for Omitted Ledbetter Instructions; No Blanket Mandatory Eyewitness Charge 1. Introduction In State v. Franqui...

License-Withdrawal Denials Are Not UAPA-Appealable “Contested Cases” Absent a Statutory Hearing Right (and Declaratory-Ruling Theories Can Be Waived)

Date: Apr 16, 2026

License-Withdrawal Denials Are Not UAPA-Appealable “Contested Cases” Absent a Statutory Hearing Right (and Declaratory-Ruling Theories Can Be Waived) I. Introduction In Clearview Electric, Inc. v....

Truth as a Complete Defense Under Rule 8.2(a) and Record-Bound Review of Attorney Discipline

Date: Apr 8, 2026

Truth as a Complete Defense Under Rule 8.2(a) and Record-Bound Review of Attorney Discipline 1. Introduction This dissent in Mills v. Statewide Grievance Committee addresses attorney discipline...

Mills v. Statewide Grievance Committee — Objective-Evidence Requirement for Rule 8.2(a) Attacks on Judicial Integrity

Date: Apr 8, 2026

Objective-Evidence Requirement for Rule 8.2(a) Attacks on Judicial Integrity in Filed Motions Case: Mills v. Statewide Grievance Committee (SC 21090) Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut Officially...

No Implied “Record of” Disability Finding from a “Regarded As” Finding in Connecticut Fair-Housing Accommodation Claims

Date: Mar 29, 2026

No Implied “Record of” Disability Finding from a “Regarded As” Finding in Connecticut Fair-Housing Accommodation Claims 1. Introduction In Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities ex rel....

Recklessness Subsumes General Intent: No Plain Error for Omitting a Stand-Alone General Intent Instruction in § 53a-55 (a) (3) Firearm Manslaughter

Date: Mar 1, 2026

Recklessness Subsumes General Intent: No Plain Error for Omitting a Stand-Alone General Intent Instruction in § 53a-55 (a) (3) Firearm Manslaughter Introduction In State v. Anthony V. (Conn. Mar. 3,...

Post-Election Application of Newly Adopted Charter Minority-Representation Rules Is a “Ruling of an Election Official” Under §§ 9-328 and 9-371b

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Post-Election Application of Newly Adopted Charter Minority-Representation Rules Is a “Ruling of an Election Official” Under §§ 9-328 and 9-371b I. Introduction Amadasun v. Armstrong, Town Clerk of...

Self-Defense Unanimity: No Requirement to Agree on a Particular § 53a-19 Disqualification

Date: Feb 17, 2026

Self-Defense Unanimity: No Requirement to Agree on a Particular § 53a-19 Disqualification Case: State of Connecticut v. Kiyon Matheney (SC 20987) Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut Officially...

Colon Inapplicable to Habeas Actual Innocence; Insanity Acquittal Under § 53a-13 (a) Does Not Establish Lack of Conspiratorial Intent

Date: Feb 15, 2026

Colon Inapplicable to Habeas Actual Innocence; Insanity Acquittal Under § 53a-13 (a) Does Not Establish Lack of Conspiratorial Intent I. Introduction Case: Moon v. Commissioner of Correction (Supreme...

Connecticut “On-Premises Means Paid”: Mandatory Security Screening Time Is Compensable and No De Minimis Exception Applies

Date: Feb 8, 2026

Connecticut “On-Premises Means Paid”: Mandatory Security Screening Time Is Compensable and No De Minimis Exception Applies I. Introduction Case: Del Rio v. Amazon.com Services, Inc. Court: Supreme...

State v. Johnson (Dissent): Purcell “Stop-and-Clarify” Requires Narrow, Accurate Clarification; Re-Mirandizing Cannot Cure Misleading Counsel Deflection

Date: Feb 6, 2026

Purcell “Stop-and-Clarify” Requires Narrow, Accurate Clarification; Re-Mirandizing Cannot Cure Misleading Counsel Deflection Introduction In State v. Johnson (dissenting in part, D’Auria, J., joined...

State v. Johnson: Re-administration of Miranda Warnings Can Clarify an Equivocal Request for Counsel Under Purcell (and “Including, But Not Limited To” Does Not Necessarily Make a Carrier-Records Warrant General)

Date: Feb 5, 2026

State v. Johnson: Re-administration of Miranda Warnings Can Clarify an Equivocal Request for Counsel Under Purcell (and “Including, But Not Limited To” Does Not Necessarily Make a Carrier-Records...

Alternative Holdings in Unappealed Judgments Are “Necessary” for Collateral Estoppel (Connecticut)

Date: Feb 5, 2026

Alternative Holdings in Unappealed Judgments Are “Necessary” for Collateral Estoppel (Connecticut) 1. Introduction In Torrington Tax Collector, LLC v. Riley (Conn. Feb. 3, 2026), the Supreme Court of...

DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC — Meaningful Adequacy Review of a Foreign Forum Despite Defendant Consent (and the Proper Use of Conditional Dismissal)

Date: Jan 31, 2026

DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC: Meaningful Adequacy Review of a Foreign Forum Despite Defendant Consent (and the Proper Use of Conditional Dismissal) 1. Introduction Case: DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC (Supreme...

Objective Phone Records Can Establish Strickland Prejudice Without Habeas Testimony from the Impeached Witness

Date: Jan 22, 2026

Objective Phone Records Can Establish Strickland Prejudice Without Habeas Testimony from the Impeached Witness I. Introduction Case: Grant v. Commissioner of Correction (Supreme Court of Connecticut,...

Specific Unanimity Instruction Alone Cures Duplicitous “Multiple-Instances” Counts—Special Interrogatories Not Constitutionally Required

Date: Jan 18, 2026

Specific Unanimity Instruction Alone Cures Duplicitous “Multiple-Instances” Counts—Special Interrogatories Not Constitutionally Required 1. Introduction In State v. Carlos G. (Conn. Jan. 20, 2026),...

State v. Christon M.: Adequate Sixth Amendment Notice When Information Charges § 53a-100aa Generally and Allegations Necessarily Implicate Multiple Subdivisions

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Adequate Sixth Amendment Notice Where an Information Charges Home Invasion Under § 53a-100aa Generally and the Allegations Necessarily Satisfy Multiple Subdivisions Case: State v. Christon M. (SC...

Premature Subrogation Claims Are Ripe Before Judgment: Make Whole Doctrine Creates an Immediately Actionable Priority Injury

Date: Jan 7, 2026

Premature Subrogation Claims Are Ripe Before Judgment: Make Whole Doctrine Creates an Immediately Actionable Priority Injury Case: Orlando v. Liburd, 353 Conn. 845 (Conn. Jan. 6, 2026) Court: Supreme...