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CONNECTICUT OPINIONS MARCH 23, 2020 ¦ 31
APPELLATE COURT and her limbs appeared 1.5 miles away from
defendant’s home. Defendant stated to an ac-
quaintance before his girlfriend disappeared
that he knew how to get rid of someone. On
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW appeal, defendant claimed the state failed to
Court Affirmed Judgment for prove the manner, means, place, cause, and
time of death. He also claimed the lower court
Defendant In Lawsuit Brought by erroneously instructed the jury by failing to
an Incarcerated Inmate Claiming give a special credibility instruction. The court
Defendant Acted In Retaliation affirmed the conviction. The court first found
the evidence was sufficient to support a mur-
CASE: Jolley v. Vinton der conviction. It reasoned the jury could have
COURT: Connecticut Appellate Court reasonably inferred that the defendant intend-
DOC. NO.: AC 41989 ed, and did cause, the victim’s death; there
COURT OPINION BY: Devlin was evidence that he was domineering and
DATE: March 10, 2020 • PAGES: 6 controlling, he had choked her a month be-
fore she disappeared, the victim had expressed
Plaintiff, who was self-represented and incar- her desire to end the relationship, she had last
cerated, sued defendant, a former state cor- been seen alive at his house, and the interior
rectional institution administrative captain, of the defendant’s car was detailed shortly
claiming violations of his federal constitution- after the victim’s disappearance. The court
al rights. Plaintiff claimed defendant retaliated then determined that the trial court did not
against him for providing legal advice to fel- err in failing to provide a special credibility
low inmates by ordering a search of plaintiff ’s instruction. It found that the witness at issue
cell, the seizure of items from his cell, and the did not fall into any of the three categories
removal of plaintiff ’s job at the prison’s gym. of witnesses that required such an instruction,
The trial court rendered judgment in favor and the court gave multiple other credibility
of defendant, finding plaintiff failed to prove instructions. Lastly, the court found that the
that he was engaged in an activity protected by defendant’s right to due process was not vio-
the first amendment and that there was in any lated after the state tried him for a third time
causal connection between his alleged protect- following two previous mistrials. The court
ed conduct and defendant’s alleged retaliatory affirmed the conviction.
acts. Plaintiff appealed and the court affirmed.
The court held that the trial court correctly de-
termined plaintiff failed to prove a causal con- REAL ESTATE • CIVIL PROCEDURE
nection. There was no evidence of a retaliatory Court Dismissed Defendant’s Appeal
motive based on defendant’s testimony, which
the court found credible, and there was suffi- In Foreclosure Litigation For Lack Of
cient evidence to prove that defendant’s actions Subject Matter Jurisdiction
were based on legitimate motives. The court
affirmed the lower court’s ruling. CASE: The Office Condo. Ass’n v. Rompre
COURT: Connecticut Appellate Court
DOC. NO.: AC 41458
CRIMINAL APPEALS COURT OPINION BY: DiPentima
Court Affirmed Defendant’s Murder DATE: March 10, 2020 • PAGES: 7
Plaintiff sought to foreclose a statutory lien
Conviction, Finding Sufficient Evidence for unpaid common charges on a condo unit
to Support It owned by defendant. Defendant filed a coun-
terclaim. The trial court granted defendant’s
motion for summary judgment on the fore-
CASE: State of Connecticut v. Richards closure complaint and defendant amended
COURT: Connecticut Appellate Court her counterclaim to add counts of vexatious
DOC. NO.: AC 43140
COURT OPINION BY: Bishop litigation and slander of title. Plaintiff filed
DATE: March 10, 2020 • PAGES: 19 a motion for summary judgment, which the
Defendant was convicted of murder and court granted except as to attorney fees. De-
appealed. Defendant’s girlfriend went missing fendant appealed and the court dismissed the
CONNECTICUT
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