DocketNumber: No. CV92 0128849 S
Citation Numbers: 1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 540
Judges: KARAZIN, J.
Filed Date: 1/18/1994
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
On December 3, 1992, the minor plaintiff Jennifer Green, through her parents Todd and Victoria, brought a two count negligence action against defendant Peter Mancusi, alleging that as the minor plaintiff attempted to cross the street at a pedestrian crosswalk she was struck by Mancusi's automobile, sustaining serious injuries. The court, Rush, J., granted Mancusi's motion to cite in as a defendant Larissa Ettore, the minor plaintiff's babysitter, who was present at the time of the accident. On February 18, 1993, plaintiffs amended their complaint to add a negligence count against Ettore [hereinafter "defendant"].
On April 16, 1993, the defendant filed an answer, special defense and counterclaim.1 The special defense alleges that if the minor plaintiff sustained injuries, they were a result of her parents' negligence, and the counterclaim alleges that damages should be apportioned pursuant to General Statutes
"The purpose of a motion to strike is to challenge the legal sufficiency of the allegations of any complaint to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Gordon v. Bridgeport Housing Authority,
1. Special Defense
The plaintiff claims that the special defense fails to adequately specify acts or omissions constituting negligence and that it is barred by the doctrine of parental immunity. In response, the defendant argues that whether a parent is negligent is a question of fact which should not be determined by this court on a motion to strike. The defendant further argues that the special defense may be maintained notwithstanding the minor plaintiff's inability to sue a parent directly under the doctrine of parental immunity.
"At common law, when a minor child is injured by reason of the negligent act of a third party, two causes of action arise, one in favor of the child to recover for injuries and the other in favor of the parent for consequential damages such as expenses incurred by reason of those injuries. Botelho v. Curtis,
As noted above, count one of the action at bar is brought by the plaintiff parents on behalf of the minor plaintiff for injuries, and count two is brought by the plaintiff parents for medical expenses. The special defense, which apparently alleges negligence supervision on the part of the parents, would not be a legal barrier to the minor plaintiff's action. The court grants the motion to strike the special defense as to count one of the complaint.
A determination of whether the special defense is valid as to the second count of the plaintiffs' complaint requires an analysis of the application of the doctrine of parental immunity. "The parental immunity doctrine bars an unemancipated minor from suing his or her parent for injuries caused by the negligence of that parent." Dubay v. Irish,
It is submitted that there is a split in the Superior Courts, and that the higher courts have not addressed the issue of whether the doctrine of parental immunity bars third party claims against parents in actions where minor plaintiffs seek damages for injuries. See Ortiz v. Douglas, 9 CTLR 62 (May 31, 1993, Hennessey, J.) (court denied motion to cite in as defendant father of minor plaintiff due to parental immunity doctrine); Waddicor v. Bozrah Light Power Co., 9 CTLR 190, 191 (May 28, 1993, Teller, J.) (court noted that even if plaintiff mother was properly joined for apportionment claim, mother immune from liability under doctrine of parental immunity); Raffuse v. Rollar Homes Inc.,
Most of the cases addressing parental immunity in the Superior Court are not directly applicable because they address third party claims rather than special defenses. The parents in this case are already parties to the action, and since the negligence of all parties will be considered by the trier when determining negligence percentages pursuant to General Statutes 572h, the special defense may not be necessary. However, there is an absence of authority from the Supreme and Appellate Courts regarding whether the parental immunity doctrine precludes negligent supervision as a special defense. The court denies the motion to strike the special defense of negligent supervision as to the second count of the complaint. See Benway v. Ruggerio, supra.
II. Counterclaim
The plaintiff argues that the counterclaim is insufficient since it only seeks apportionment of damages rather than affirmative relief and because it does not allege the elements of a cause of action sounding in negligence. The defendant also claims that the counterclaim is barred by the doctrine of parental immunity. In response, the defendant argues that she has properly alleged a counterclaim grounded upon contributory negligence.
General Statutes
(c) In a negligence action to recover damages resulting from personal injury, wrongful death or damages to CT Page 544 property occurring on or after October 1, 1987, if the damages are determined to be proximately caused by the negligence of more than one party, each party against whom recovery is allowed shall be liable to the claimant only for his proportionate share of the recoverable economic damages and the recoverable noneconomic damages except as provided in subsection (g) of this section.
(e) In any action to which this section is applicable, the instructions to the jury given by the court shall include an explanation of the effect on awards and liabilities of the percentage of negligence found by the jury to be attributable to each party.
(f) The jury or, if there is no jury, the court shall specify: (1) The amount of economic damages; (2) the amount of noneconomic damages; (3) any findings of facts necessary for the court to specify recoverable economic damages and recoverable noneconomic damages; (4) the percentage of negligence that proximately caused the injury death or damage to property in relation to one hundred per cent, that is attributable to each party whose negligent actions were a proximate cause of the injury, death or damage to property including settled or released persons under subsection (n) of this section; and (5) the percentage of such negligence attributable to the claimant.
In Bueno v. Duva,
The counterclaim in the case at bar, which alleges that "injuries and damages should be apportioned pursuant to
KARAZIN, J.