Source: https://connecticut.lexroll.com/566-new-park-assoc-v-blardo-97-conn-app-803-2006/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 06:15:38+00:00

Document:
566 NEW PARK ASSOCIATES, LLC, ET AL. v. JESSE BLARDO ET AL.
Flynn, C. J., and Schaller and Gruendel, Js.
1. The trial court improperly determined that the second document was not part of the parties’ contract, the language of the contract having clearly and unambiguously referred to the second document as part of the contract; further, the trial court’s finding that the second document was not in evidence was clearly erroneous and was not supported by the record, which showed that the document had been admitted as a full exhibit.
2. The plaintiffs’ claim to the contrary notwithstanding, even if the trial court had considered the second document, it reasonably could have concluded that the plaintiff’s breached the contract by taking possession of the job site on at least two occasions without providing seven days notice of termination as required under the terms of the second document, and therefore the court’s failure to consider the second document was harmless and not likely to have affected the result.
Officially released October 3, 2006.
Action to recover damages for, inter alia, breach of contract, and for other relief, brought to the Superior Court in the judicial district of Hartford, where the defendant JTJ Builders, LLC, filed a counterclaim against the named plaintiff; thereafter, the matter was tried to the court, Hon. Robert J. Hale, judge trial referee; subsequently, the plaintiff’s withdrew the action in part; judgment for the defendants on the complaint and for the defendant JTJ Builders, LLC, on the counterclaim, from which the plaintiff’s appealed to this court Affirmed.
J. Anthony Doran, for the appellants (plaintiffs).
Michael A. Georgetti, for the appellees (defendants).
the judgment rendered in favor of JTJ on JTJ’s counter-claim. The plaintiff’s claim that the court improperly concluded that (1) a certain document was not part of the parties’ construction contract and (2) the plaintiff’s were in breach of the contract. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
The following facts and procedural history are relevant to our resolution of the plaintiffs’ appeal. In the present action, the plaintiff’s are New Park, the owner of real property at 566 New Park Avenue in West Hartford, and Advantage, an automotive repair business operated on the premises. The defendants are JTJ, a general contracting company, and Blardo, the sole owner and president of JTJ.
On March 23, 2000, New Park entered into a construction contract with JTJ that provided that JTJ would serve as a contractor for certain improvements and additions to New Park’s property. The parties utilized a standard form agreement created by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and known as AIA Document A105 (A105). All the relevant parties signed A105.
Following the parties’ execution of the contract, JTJ began work on the site. The construction encountered substantial delays, however, and in June, 2000, the parties began to exchange a series of letters discussing the reasons for the delays. As a result of the delays, the relationship between the parties deteriorated and, subsequently, Malcolm Arnold, a representative of the plaintiffs, terminated the contract, purportedly in accordance with A205, by a letter dated October 15, 2000.
filed a counterclaim against New Park, alleging breach of contract. Subsequently, on March 8, 2004, the plaintiff’s withdrew their claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and interference with business relations against both defendants.
The trial began on January 6, 2004, and lasted seven days. At trial, the plaintiffs argued that A205 was part of the contract and that they properly terminated the contract pursuant to A205’s provisions. The defendants’ counsel directly challenged the proposition that the provisions of A205 permitted termination of the contract by the plaintiffs. To that end, the defendants’ counsel, during his cross-examination of Arnold, requested that A205 be produced. Upon production of the document, and by agreement of the parties, A205 was admitted into evidence as a full exhibit. Counsel then proceeded to cross-examine Arnold as to what specific provisions of A205 the plaintiffs relied on in terminating the contract.
the plaintiffs’ breach. Specifically, the court found that the plaintiffs breached the contract by “changing the terms of payment without agreement . . . ordering the defendants off the job and finally, by the letter of October 15, 2000, terminating the contract.” With respect to JTJ’s counterclaim, the court concluded that in light of its findings that New Park was in breach of the contract, JTJ was entitled to judgment on its counterclaim. Consequently, the court rendered judgment in favor of the defendants on the complaint and in favor of JTJ with respect to the counterclaim. This appealed followed.
The plaintiff’s first claim on appeal is that the court improperly found that A205 was not a part of the contract. We agree.
In support of this claim, the plaintiffs argue that the court improperly found that A205 was not in evidence and that this improper finding contributed to the court’s conclusion that A205 was not part of the contract. Accordingly, we address, at the outset, whether the court improperly concluded that A205 was not in evidence.
legally and logically correct and whether they find support in the facts set out in the memorandum of decision; where the factual basis of the court’s decision is challenged we must determine whether the facts set forth in the memorandum of decision are supported by the evidence or whether, in light of the evidence and the pleadings in the whole record, those facts are clearly erroneous.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.)Rollar Construction Demolition, Inc. v. Granite Rock Associates, LLC, 94 Conn. App. 125, 130, 891 A.2d 133 (2006).
In its memorandum of decision, the court expressly concluded that A205 was not in evidence. Specifically, it stated that there was “no such document in evidence signed or unsigned. . . .” The record, however, belies this conclusion. As noted previously, A205 was introduced as a full exhibit, and testimony was offered as to its terms. In light of the record in the present case, we conclude that the court improperly determined that A205 was not in evidence.
Having concluded that the court improperly determined that A205 was not in evidence, we now turn to the plaintiffs’ claim that the court improperly found that A205 was not part of the contract.
intended by their contractual commitments is a question of law.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Goldberg v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 269 Conn. 550, 559-60, 849 A.2d 368 (2004). There being definitive contract language in the present case, we address the present issue as a question of law. When the court draws conclusions of law, our review is plenary and we must decide whether the conclusions are legally and logically correct and whether there is support for them in the record. See Issler v. Issler, 250 Conn. 226, 236, 737 A.2d 383 (1999).
“[A] contract must be construed to effectuate the intent of the parties, which is determined from the language used interpreted in the light of the situation of the parties and the circumstances connected with the transaction. . . . [T]he intent of the parties is to be ascertained by a fair and reasonable construction of the written words and . . . the language used must be accorded its common, natural, and ordinary meaning and usage where it can be sensibly applied to the subject matter of the contract. . . . Where the language of the contract is clear and unambiguous, the contract is to be given effect according to its terms. A court will not torture words to import ambiguity where the ordinary meaning leaves no room for ambiguity. . . . Similarly, any ambiguity in a contract must emanate from the language used in the contract rather than from one party’s subjective perception of the terms.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Poole v. Waterbury, 266 Conn. 68, 87-88, 831 A.2d 211 (2003).
the two may be interpreted together as the agreement of the parties. . . . The documents incorporated need not be attached to the contract nor signed or initialed unless the contract so requires. . . . 17A C.J.S., Contracts, § 327 (2).” (Citations omitted, internal quotation marks omitted.) Randolph Construction Co. v. Kings East Corp., 165 Conn. 269, 275-76, 334 A.2d 464 (1973); see also Batter Building Materials Co. v Kirschner, 142 Conn. 1, 7, 110 A.2d 464 (1954).
We cannot strain ourselves to import ambiguity into the words of this contract. See Morgenbesser v. Aquarion Water Co., 276 Conn. 825, 829, 888 A.2d 1078 (2006).
Accordingly, we conclude that the court improperly determined that A205 was not part of the contract.
The plaintiff’s next claim that had the court considered A205, it could not properly have concluded that the plaintiffs breached the contract. We disagree and conclude that the impropriety was harmless.
v. DeJesus, 97 Conn. App. 585, 590, 905 A.2d 1210 (2006).
occurred prior to September 28, 2000, when Arnold informed Blardo that he and his crew “were no longer welcome on the job site” and instructed them “to get [their] stuff and get off the job site.” Thereafter, in late September or early October, 2000, Arnold contacted Blardo and asked if they could meet at the job site. Blardo agreed and, upon returning to the job site, he began to take various measurements. While Blardo was taking measurements, Arnold left in order to speak to the owner. Arnold subsequently returned and informed Blardo that “[t]he owner don’t want you on the job site.” Blardo left the premises, and by a letter dated October 15, 2000, Arnold, in his capacity as the plaintiffs’ representative, wrote to the defendants’ attorney and terminated the contract.
As stated previously, the court ultimately concluded that the plaintiffs breached the contract in three ways: First, by changing the terms of the contract without agreement; second, by ordering the defendants off the job site; and, finally, by the letter dated October 15, 2000, terminating the contract. The plaintiffs argue on appeal that they were justified in executing these remedies pursuant to the express provisions of A205 and, therefore, had the court properly considered A205, it could not have found that they had breached the contract.
otherwise guilty of a substantial breach. Pursuant to article 11, § 11.2.2, however, even if any or all of those conditions were satisfied, the plaintiffs were still required to consult with an architect and to provide the defendants seven days written notice prior to terminating the contract, taking possession of the site or completing the work by reasonable means.
In the present case, the record supports a conclusion that the plaintiffs, on two occasions, took possession of the job site by ordering Blardo off the premises without providing seven days written notice of termination. Indeed, written notice of termination was not provided until the October 15, 2000 letter. Consequently, even if the court had considered A205, it could have concluded, nevertheless, that the plaintiffs breached the contract by taking possession of the job site without providing the defendants seven days written notice. We conclude, therefore, that consideration of A205 was not likely to have affected the result.
 The plaintiffs raise four claims on appeal. Specifically, they claim that the court improperly (1) concluded that a certain document was not part of the contract, (2) concluded that the plaintiffs were in breach of the contract, (3) rendered judgment in favor of the defendants on the plaintiffs’ complaint and (4) rendered judgment in favor of JTJ on its counterclaim against New Park. With respect to the plaintiffs’ third and fourth claims, rather than providing independent analysis, the plaintiffs’ brief directs this court to the analysis of their second claim. In our view, the plaintiffs’ final two claims are simply alternate phrasings of their second claim, and we treat them as such.
 The defendants argue that only a copy of an A205 form was admitted as an exhibit and, therefore, the court’s conclusion that A205 was not introduced at trial was proper. This argument, for which the defendants offer no supporting case law or transcript citation, ignores the fact that A205 is merely a supplemental list of contract terms and did not bear any date or signature. Consequently, we see no distinction in the present case between a copy of A205 and the original A205.
 The defendants argue that A205 was never given to them and, therefore, they could not have intended to incorporate it into the contract. The contract was clear that A205 was being incorporated by reference. It was the defendants’ responsibility, therefore, to become familiar with all the terms of the contract, including terms incorporated by reference. Consequently, the defendants are precluded from now arguing that these terms are not part of the contract on the ground that they did not read all of the terms of the contract before assenting to it. Se Batter Building Materials Co. v. Kirschner, supra, 142 Conn. 7 (“a party [is not] allowed, in the absence of accident, fraud, mistake or unfair dealing, to escape his contractual obligations by saying . . . that he did not read what was expressly incorporated as specific provisions of the contract into which he entered”).
 The defendants also argue that the court, after considering all the testimony was free to make its own determination as to whether A205 was intended to be incorporated by reference into the contract. We disagree with this contention.
There is no question that A105 expressly provided for the incorporation of A205. Any testimony, therefore, regarding whether A205 was intended to be incorporated into the contract would contradict an unambiguous provision of the contract and was barred by the parol evidence rule.

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