When awarding child support, Connecticut courts must follow the child support guidelines, which establish a presumptive amount based on the parents’ incomes. A court may deviate from these guidelines, however, only if it makes three specific findings on the record to justify the deviation. Failure to do so can result in reversal on appeal.   A…

Since launching Connecticut Appellate Law Firm, one of the most frequently asked questions I have received is: “How long does a Connecticut civil or family appeal take to resolve?”   In legal practice, the answer is often “it depends.”   Under typical circumstances and without any special motions or complexities, the process from filing an appeal to…

In Cardona v. Padilla, the Connecticut Appellate Court considered whether the trial court abused its discretion in making its custody and visitation orders, which substantially limited the non-custodial parent’s access to parenting time with the child. In this family appeal, the Appellate Court held that the trial court abused its discretion because the trial court…

When an appellant challenges a trial court’s factual findings, attention to procedural rules is crucial. In Park Seymour Associates, LLC v. City of Hartford / Park Squire Associates, LLC v. City of Hartford, the plaintiffs discovered this the hard way. Despite their reliance on testimony to argue that the trial court’s factual findings were clearly…

In North Branford Citizens Against Bulk Propane Storage v. Town of North Branford et al., the Connecticut Appellate Court considered a plaintiff-association’s challenge to a zoning regulation amendment that allowed the construction of a bulk propane storage facility in North Branford.   In resolving the appeal, the Appellate Court relied on an unpreserved alternative ground for…

The Connecticut Supreme Court recently tackled a nuanced legal issue in Suprynowicz v. Tohan: whether allegations involving a reproductive endocrinologist’s misconduct during IVF procedures should be classified as wrongful life claims or ordinary negligence. This decision provides key insights into Connecticut tort law and the fine line between these two claim types, offering guidance to…

An Insurer’s Conduct Can Render a Cancellation Notice Ambiguous  An insurer’s conduct can render a cancellation notice that otherwise complies with General Statutes § 31-348 indefinite, uncertain, and ambiguous. This decision from the Connecticut Supreme Court highlights the importance of clarity in cancellations and provides guidance for attorneys handling such cases.  Case Background Thomas Napolitano, doing…