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stay, which the court denied because it would ask rendered the oral agreement unenforceable, and
the court to take action on similar arguments the court agreed. The court noted that nothing
that were the subject of the appeal. in the Charter of the City of Hartford granted
the mayor the unilateral authority to make con-
CONTRACTS • DISPUTE RESOLUTION tracts binding the city. Plaintiff argued they were
entitled to payment by the City under General
Arbitration Award not Acquired by Statutes §7-101a. However the court found the
statutes do not apply where the underlying ac-
Undue Means tions against the former mayor involved criminal

CASE: Johnson v. Ashley Constr. Group LLC proceedings rather than civil claims regarding the
COURT: Fairfield J.D. at Bridgeport mayor’s duties as a city official. The court grant-
DOC. NO.: CV-20-6100074 ed summary judgment in favor of the defendant.
COURT OPINION BY: Welch
DATE: May 28, 2021 • PAGES: 9 DAMAGES
Plaintiff contracted with defendant for a home
improvement project. A dispute arose, and in ac- Court Awards Economic and
cordance with the agreement, the plaintiff sought
arbitration before the American Arbitration As- Noneconomic Damages for Assault and
sociation. The arbitrator awarded the plaintiff Injuries
$27,250 after defendant failed to submit a re-
sponse. Defendant then filed an objection to the CASE: Samghabadi v. Rivas
application to confirm the award, arguing that COURT: New Haven J.D. at New Haven
it was awarded on default during the pandemic DOC. NO.: CV-196097208
without actual notice to defendant. The defen- COURT OPINION BY: Wilson
DATE: June 01, 2021 • PAGES: 12
dant argued that he was served at an address that
was incorrect and not the one listed on the da- Plaintiffs, husband and wife, were assaulted by
tabase with the Connecticut Secretary of State. defendants during a New Year’s party at a ca-
Plaintiff claimed that the defendant did not meet sino. Plaintiffs suffered injuries resulting in hos-
the burden with alleged lack of notice. The court pitalization, including a broken nose, back pain
disagreed with defendant that the award was and neurological issues. Plaintiffs successfully
procured by undue means because the plaintiff obtained a default judgment against defendants
followed the procedure outlined in the contract when defendants failed to appear for a trial man-
they both signed, and held that every reasonable agement conference, however defendants dis-
inference should be made in favor of arbitrator’s puted damages. The court detailed the extent of
decisions. the plaintiffs’ injuries and medical bills, including
emergency room costs and ongoing nasal recon-
struction efforts, and granted economic and non-
CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES economic damages of $60,000 for both plaintiffs.

The court also ordered scheduled payments on
Statute of Frauds Invalidates Oral an ongoing weekly basis as to the defendants.
Contract
CASE: Santos & Lalima, PC v. City of Hartford DAMAGES • CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES •
COURT: Hartford J.D. at Hartford REAL ESTATE
DOC. NO.: CV 19-6117346
COURT OPINION BY: Taylor Plaintiff Awarded Damages in Water
DATE: May 27, 2021 • PAGES: 22
Third party Perez, as mayor of the City of Hart- Damage Case
ford, retained plaintiff to represent him against CASE: Burt v. Snowberry Cobble Vill. Ass’n
felony charges. Perez eventually agreed to guilty COURT: Hartford J.D.
pleas, however only made oral promises to com- DOC. NO.: CV-18-6090973
pensate plaintiff for their legal work. Defendant COURT OPINION BY: Cobb
City declined to compensate plaintiff, and plain- DATE: May 25, 2021 • PAGES: 12
tiff brought a claim for breach of contract and A tenant, who brought suit against her con-
promissory estoppel. Defendant moved for sum- dominium association for water damage, was
mary judgment, arguing the statute of frauds awarded $12,587.62 in actual damages. In 2014,
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