Court Opinion

ID: 9766256
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 04:38:08.75569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:20.757996
License: Public Domain

House, C. J.
(dissenting). In my view, the record in this case is not sufficient to permit a decision on the merits of the appeal. Although the plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that they purchased the property as principals and not in performance of their business as licensed real estate brokers, there is no finding by the commission that this was in fact the case. Also, although the plaintiffs alleged that they were aggrieved by the order of the defendant commission, the defendant denied this allegation, thus putting the question of aggrievement in issue. Aggrievement is a jurisdictional condition precedent to the taking of an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas; General Statutes §§ 20-322, 20-324j, 20-3291 and 20-329aa; and a question of fact for that court to determine. I. R. Stich Associates, Inc. v. Town Council, 155 Conn. 1, 3, 229 A.2d 545; Luery v. Zoning Board, 150 Conn. 136, 140, 187 A.2d 247; Fox v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 146 Conn. 665, 667, 154 A.2d 520. The court made no finding with respect to aggrievement. “Proof of aggrievement was an essential prerequisite to the court’s jurisdiction of the subject *454matter of the appeal. The parties could not confer jurisdiction of the subject matter of the appeal by agreeing to that prerequisite.” Hughes v. Town Planning & Zoning Commission, 156 Conn. 505, 509, 242 A.2d 705. In view of the fact that no penalty was imposed on the plaintiffs and the defendant commission’s order was limited to the issuance of an advisory interpretation of its regulations and a warning, a determination of the fact of aggrievement was essential to establish jurisdiction for the plaintiffs’ appeal. Under the circumstances, I would dismiss the appeal to this court.