DocketNumber: No. 102797
Citation Numbers: 1992 Conn. Super. Ct. 2154
Judges: BLUE, J.
Filed Date: 3/9/1992
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
GDC seeks both temporary and permanent injunctions. The present procedural posture of the case is, however, somewhat unusual. On February 10, 1992, the case appeared on the court's special proceedings calendar, ostensibly for an evidentiary hearing on GDC's application for a temporary injunction. The file, however, reflects that a temporary injunction had been CT Page 2155 previously granted by the the Hon. Bernard Gaffney (apparently without objection) on May 17, 1991. The parties agreed that the true purpose of the February 10, 1992, hearing was to determine whether the May 17, 1991, temporary injunction should continue pending a full hearing on the merits of GDC's complaint seeking a permanent injunction. For the reasons described below, the court is of the opinion that the temporary injunction should continue.
"A temporary injunction is a preliminary order of the court, granted at the outset or during the pendency of an action, forbidding the performance of the threatened acts described in the original complaint until the rights of the parties respecting them shall have been finally determined by the court." Deming v. Bradstreet,
In deciding whether it should be granted or, if granted, whether it should be continued or dissolved, the court is called upon to balance the results which may be caused to one party or the other, and if it appears that to deny or dissolve it may result in great harm to the plaintiff and little to the defendant, the court may well exercise its discretion in favor of granting or continuing it, unless indeed, it is very clear that the plaintiff is without legal right.
Olcott v. Pendleton,
Although the factual history of this case (some of which has been stipulated) is voluminous, only a brief summary is necessary for present purposes. On February 15, 1985, the State Department of Economic Development approved a project plan for a development in Naugatuck referred to as the General Datacomm Mini-industrial Park. (Ex. A; testimony of Kenneth L. Roberts.) The project plan states in its first sentence that it "is proposed by the Borough of Naugatuck under the provisions of Chapter
On July 23, 1987, GDC exercised its option to purchase parcel C. On July 24, 1987, Naugatuck filed an action in this court, Borough of Naugatuck v. GDC Naugatuck, Inc., No. 081729, seeking to have the option declared null and void. That action is still pending. On April 11, 1991, apparently frustrated by the slow pace of its lawsuit, the Board of Mayor and Burgesses of Naugatuck passed a resolution condemning the option. The present action was filed shortly thereafter. In it, GDC contends that the condemnation should be enjoined because it has been exercised with respect to property already devoted to a public use and in violation of various statutory provisions.
A detailed analysis of GDC's arguments must await a full presentation of the facts at the eventual hearing for a permanent injunction. At this point it is clear that to dissolve Judge Gaffney's temporary injunction would "result in great harm to the plaintiff and little to the defendant." Olcott v. Pendleton, supra,
Under these circumstances, the temporary injunction should be dissolved only if "it is very clear that the plaintiff is without legal rights." Id. That situation cannot be said to exist here. GDC's option to purchase parcel C was acquired pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec.
There is a nice question here as to whether parcel C, or more precisely the option to purchase parcel C, was appropriated for public use at the time of the condemnation. But there is, at the very least, a substantial case that it was indeed appropriated for public use, since fairly anticipated future use may be considered in this analysis. City of New Haven v. Town of East Haven,
The temporary injunction is continued until GDC's application for a permanent injunction is heard and decided.
Dated at Waterbury this 6th day of March, 1992.
JON C. BLUE JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
The Resolution Trust Corp. v. Leonard S. Elman Berger, ... , 949 F.2d 624 ( 1991 )
Olcott v. Pendleton , 128 Conn. 292 ( 1941 )
New Haven v. East Haven , 35 Conn. Super. Ct. 157 ( 1977 )
Deming v. Bradstreet , 85 Conn. 650 ( 1912 )
Hiland v. Ives , 154 Conn. 683 ( 1967 )