United Technologies Corp. v. Groppo
United Technologies Corp. v. Groppo
Opinion of the Court
This appeal comes to us on a reservation of legal issues pursuant to General Statutes § 52-235
The parties stipulated to the following facts. At all times relevant to this action, the plaintiffs were engaged in business in Connecticut and subject to the Connecticut Sales and Use Tax Act. General Statutes § 12-407 et seq. At all times relevant to this case, the plaintiffs were parties to cost-reimbursement type contracts with the United States government. From July 1, 1981, through June 30,1985,
The defendant’s position prior to July 1, 1982, was that the purchases of tangible personal property and
On April 2, 1986, after an audit by the defendant, the defendant assessed the plaintiffs $2,200,237.25 for unpaid taxes, excluding interest. On April 30,1986, the plaintiffs filed a petition for reassessment contesting the assessment pursuant to General Statutes § 12-418. On July 24, 1986, the defendant determined that no basis existed for any revision of the assessment. On August 22, 1986, the plaintiffs filed an appeal in the trial court pursuant to General Statutes § 12-422. On June 11,1993, the trial court approved this stipulation for reservation.
A trial court cannot compel this court to render advisory type opinions by the simple expedient of reserving questions to this court that do not meet the criteria set forth in General Statutes § 52-235 and Practice Book § 4147. Gianetti v. Norwalk Hospital, 211 Conn. 51, 55-56, 557 A.2d 1249 (1989); Hoblitzelle v. Frechette, 156 Conn. 253, 255, 240 A.2d 864 (1968); Barr v. First Taxing District, 147 Conn. 221, 223-24, 158 A.2d 740 (1960). “General Statutes § 52-235 provides that questions of law may be reserved for the advice of this court in all cases in which an appeal could lawfully be taken were judgment rendered. Section [4147] of the Prac
“ ‘[I]t is certain that the statute [now § 52-235] did not contemplate, and ought not to be construed to permit, that every question which a trial court may encounter in the progress of a cause, much less every one which it may anticipate that it may encounter, might be brought here at once upon its being either met or scented from afar, and its determination had for the guidance of the trial court. Such a practice would inevitably result in this court being called upon to formulate principles of law which would never enter into the determination of a cause, to formulate such principles in an abstract form suited to more or less general application and not as related to a concrete state of facts and narrowed and simplified by such relation, to create a mass of dicta embodying statements of abstract general principles which might some day rise up to harass judicial action, and to unnecessarily multiply the number of appearances in this court which an action might have before final disposition was made of it. We do not, however, wish to be understood as say
The reservation does not satisfy the criteria for us to answer the reserved questions. First, this case requires us to determine a factual issue. The parties stipulate that the United States government gains title to the items and services purchased by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs argue that this stipulation requires a finding, as a matter of law, that the sales and use tax is illegal on the basis of our Supreme Court decisions in United Aircraft Corp. v. Connelly, supra, 145 Conn. 176, and Avco Mfg. Corp. v. Connelly, supra, 145 Conn. 161. In United Aircraft and Avco, the defendant
The determination of whether the contractor is the purchaser of the goods is, in the first instance, a finding of fact based on, but not limited to, the factors enumerated by the United States Supreme Court. The parties’ stipulation provides some of the factors to be considered in reaching this determination. This court cannot, however, find facts. See Wiegert v. Pequabuck Golf Club, Inc., supra, 150 Conn. 391. In order to answer the questions presented, we must determine the status of the parties from the facts stipulated. Since this exercise requires a factual determination, we cannot entertain the questions presented.
Second, our answers to the reserved questions are not reasonably certain to enter into the decision of the case because, after we determine the answer to the questions, further inquiry may be required by the trial court. In the stipulation, the parties concede that, if we answer the second question no, the purchases of services under the contracts are not exempt from the sales and use tax, the trial court must then make a further determination of whether the services rendered are those enumerated as exempt from the tax in General Statutes § 12-407 (2) (i) (A) through (GG). If the trial court determines that the services rendered are exempt under General Statutes § 12-407 (2) (i) (A)
Third, this case does not present such an exceptional situation “where the advantages resulting from [deciding the reservation] are manifest and distinct.” Hoblitzelle v. Frechette, supra, 156 Conn. 268. The possibility of any advantage following our decision of the reserved questions is tenuous because the answer to the second question may complicate the trial court proceedings. Further, the case is a tax appeal that, although involving a large sum of money, does not involve any monumental question of law. As we have stated above, the case involves a question of fact that will determine the outcome of the case. Thus, this case does not present an exceptional circumstance on which to entertain a reservation.
We decline to answer the reserved questions.
No costs will be taxed in this court to any party.
In this opinion the other judges concurred.
General Statutes § 52-235 provides: “(a) The superior court, or any judge of the court, with the consent of all parties of record, may reserve questions of law for the advice of the supreme court or appellate court in all cases in which an appeal could lawfully have been taken to said court had judgment been rendered therein.
“(b) The court or judge making the reservation shall, in the judgment, decree or decision made or rendered in such cases, conform to the advice of the supreme court or the appellate court.”
Practice Book § 4147 provides in pertinent part: “A reservation shall be taken ... to the appellate court from those cases in which an appeal could have been taken directly . . . to the appellate court . . . had judgment been rendered. . . .
“All questions presented for advice shall be specific and shall be phrased so as to require a Yes or No answer.
“The court will not entertain a reservation for its advice upon questions of law arising in any action unless the question or questions presented are such as are, in the opinion of the court, reasonably certain to enter into the decision of the case, and it appears that their present determination would be in the interest of simplicity, directness and economy of judicial action. . . .”
This case in the trial court was a consolidated case. The plaintiff in one case was United Technologies Corporation and in the other case was Nor-den Systems, Inc. John G. Groppo is the defendant in both cases.
These dates represent the period of time in which the tax has been assessed.
As here, the defendant in both cases was the tax commissioner.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United Technologies Corporation v. John G. Groppo, Commissioner of Revenue Services Norden Systems, Inc. v. John G. Groppo, Commissioner of Revenue Services
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published