Court Opinion

ID: 9761358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:40:30.543586+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:23.020425
License: Public Domain

Sidor, J.
(dissenting). I have to agree with the majority that the rules which it has set forth are the law in our state. But there are many cases in *455which, this court has dealt with the questions as the trial court did. See Celentano v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 136 Conn. 584, 587, 73 A.2d 101; Maltbie, Conn. App. Proc. § 341.
The decision of the majority brushes aside the fact that there was a long trial on the merits. It exalts form over substance. In these days of crowded court dockets there is no justification for the decision of the majority. Several trials may now result on an issue which has already been decided. Our statutes providing for the joinder of parties (General Statutes §§ 52-101—52-110) and permitting class actions are expressions of a legislative policy in favor of speedier justice.
When the trial court rendered its decision on the demurrer, the defendant authority chose to join issue rather than to prosecute an appeal. It contested three issues vigorously in the trial and has pursued its claims in its briefs. It is at odds with the plaintiffs on the interpretation of our cases following Low v. Madison, 135 Conn. 1, 60 A.2d 774. It takes the position that the conflict of interests rule applies only to quasi-judicial bodies. I agree with the majority in its dictum that the rule applies to quasi-legislative bodies also. We should enunciate that position as the law of the case. After a long trial, the court made a finding of facts and concluded that at least one member of the authority was disqualified because of interest from participating in the discussions and votes leading up to and culminating in the decision to acquire the plaintiffs’ site as a location for a parking facility. When the trial court decided that Charles Rosengarten was disqualified, it should have concluded that the disqualification voided the decision of the authority. The court should then have ended its consideration *456of the ease instead of deciding the other two issues. Such a decision by the trial court and by the majority would have disposed of the issues between the parties not only in this case but in the several other related condemnation cases now pending. Instead, the decision of the majority permits a retrial of all of the issues, including the issue of disqualification, in the other condemnation cases pending in Waterbury.
With this result I cannot agree. I would affirm the trial court to the extent set forth above.