Sachem Enterprises v. Southern Connecticut Gas Co.
Sachem Enterprises v. Southern Connecticut Gas Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff, Sachem Enterprises (Sachem), appeals from the judgment of the trial court granting the defendant’s
In December, 1992, and January, 1993, the Skrainski case was tried to a jury. On January 13, 1993, the trial court, Gordon, J., granted the defendant’s motion for a directed verdict as to Sachem’s third party claim. On January 19, 1993, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Sachem. Sachem neither moved to open the judgment nor filed an appeal as to the third party claim.
On May 3, 1993, Sachem filed a motion for leave to file an amended indemnity complaint against the defendant. The trial court, Gordon, J., denied the motion. On July 1,1993, Sachem commenced this action alleging that as a result of the defendant’s conduct at issue in the Skrainski case, it unnecessarily incurred attorney’s fees, litigation costs, and investigation costs. The defendant moved for summary judgment on the grounds that the complaint fails to state a cause of action, the claim is precluded by prior litigation, and the claim is untimely. The trial court, Hodgson, J., granted the defendant’s motion on the ground that Sachem’s claim is barred by the judgment rendered as to its third party complaint against the defendant in the Skrainski case. Sachem filed this appeal.
The judgment is affirmed.
The defendant in this case is Southern Connecticut Gas Company. Harvester Chemicals, Inc., Harold J. Leese Floor Equipment and Supplies Company, Paul Skrainski and Howard Jacobs are third party defendants in this case.
Pursuant to Practice Book § 4013 (a) (1) (A), the defendant submitted alternative grounds on which the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed. The defendant claims that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed on the grounds that (1) the plaintiffs claim is barred by the doctrine of issue preclusion, (2) the plaintiff failed to plead a legally cognizable claim for indemnification, and (3) the plaintiffs claim is time barred under the applicable statute of limitations.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.