Amendola v. Giammattei, No. Cv87-0260230 (Jun. 27, 1991)

1991 Conn. Super. Ct. 5248
CourtConnecticut Superior Court
DecidedJune 27, 1991
DocketNo. CV 87 0260230 S CV 87 0260235 S, CV 87 0260231 S CV 87 0260234 S, 27 84 81 CV 87 0260232 S, 26 02 33 CV 87 0260236 S, 26 02 75 CV 87 0260274 S, 26 02 37
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1991 Conn. Super. Ct. 5248 (Amendola v. Giammattei, No. Cv87-0260230 (Jun. 27, 1991)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Amendola v. Giammattei, No. Cv87-0260230 (Jun. 27, 1991), 1991 Conn. Super. Ct. 5248 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This case is unpublished as indicated by the issuing court.] AMENDED MEMORANDUM OF DECISION The plaintiffs filed a nine count amended substituted complaint on September 22, 1988.

The issue presently before the court is the determination, of the amount of damages as to each defendant. The trial for damages commenced on January 18, 1990, and after having been heard on divers days before and after the court's vacation concluded on November 30, 1990. The court also viewed the premises in issue on December 3, 1991. The last pleadings were filed on February 7, 1991.

This trial was preceded by a bifurcated hearing to determine two issues on the question of liability before the Honorable Frank S. Meadow. The two issues that the court had to decide were: (1) should the court pierce the corporate veil of Timberland Development Corporation ("Timberland") to hold Joseph and Louise Giammattei on Counts two, five, eight and nine of the complaints, individually liable, and (2) is complaint that the defendant breached the implied statutory New Home Warranties Act (as to defendants Timberland, Louise Giammattei, Joseph Giammattei, Sherwood Associates, Warren Siegel, and Ira Kroopneck); Breached the express statutory New Home Warranties Act (as to defendants Sherwood CT Page 5249 Associates, Joseph Giammattei, Warren Siegel, and Ira Kroopneck); breached the contract (as to defendants Timberland, Louise Giammattei, and Joseph Giammattei); and violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act ("CUTPA").

[T]he doctrine of caveat emptor has retained vitality in the area of real estate except in those instances involving a construction contract, where a promise is implied to construct in a workmanlike manner according to specifications. Graveline v. Posin, 31 Conn. Sup. 316, 320 (C.P., 1974). It has been held that one who constructs a building impliedly warrants that the building shall be erected in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with good usage and accepted practices in the community in which the construction and work are done. Vernali v. Centrella,28 Conn. Sup. 476, 479 (Super.Ct. 1970) (citation omitted). [T]he builder-vendor of a structure used for residential purposes impliedly warrants to his purchaser that the structure was erected in a workmanlike manner according to its intended use. Greentree Condominium Assn. Inc., v. RSP Corporation, 36 Conn. Sup. 160, 165 (Super.Ct. 1980) (citation omitted). "`The purchase of a home is not an everyday transaction for the average family, and in many instances is the most important transaction of a lifetime. To apply the rule of caveat emptor . . . in favor of a builder who is daily engaged in the business of building and selling houses, is manifestly a denial of justice."' Id. 165-66 (citation omitted).

General Statutes 47-116 et seq. is the New Home Warranties Act. It created express and implied warranties for an original buyer of a newly constructed single family home. [T]he purpose of P.A. 75-637 [codified as Conn. Gen. Stat. 47-117 and 47-118] is to afford protection to new home buyers. Any other interpretation would thwart the purpose of the act as well as the intent of the legislature. Fava v. Arrigoni, 35 Conn. Sup. 177, 179 (Super.Ct. 1979).

In 1975 the Connecticut General Assembly passed P.A. 75-637, which is codified as Conn. Gen. Stat. 47-117 and47-118. General Statute 47-117 provides:

(a) Express warranties by a vendor are created as follows: Any written affirmation of fact, or promise which related he improvement and is made a part of the basis of the bargain between the vendor and the purchaser shall create an express warranty that the improvement conforms to such affirmation or promise; (2) any written description of the improvement, including plans and specifications thereof which is made a part of the basis of the bargain between the vendor and the CT Page 5250 purchaser shall create an express warranty that the improvement conforms to such description; and (3) any sample or model which is made a part of the basis of the bargain between the vendor and the purchaser shall create an express warranty that the improvement conforms substantially to such sample or model.

(d) An express warranty shall terminate: (1) In the case of an improvement completed at the time of the delivery of the deed to the purchaser, one year after the delivery or one year after the taking of possession by the purchaser, whichever occurs first; and (2) in the case of an improvement not completed at the time of delivery of the deed to The purchaser, one year after the date of the completion or one year after taking of possession by the purchaser, whichever occurs first.

General Statute 47-118 creates implied warranties and in pertinent part states:

(a) In every sale of an improvement by a vendor to a purchaser, except as provided in subsection (I)) of this section or excluded or modified pursuant to subsection (d), warranties are implied that the improvement is: (1) Free from faulty materials; (2) constructed according to sound engineering standards; (3) constructed in a workman-like manner, and (4) fit for habitation, at the time of the delivery of the deed to a completed improvement, or at the time of completion of an improvement not completed when the deed is delivered.

(b) The implied warranties of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any condition that an inspection of the premises would reveal to a reasonably diligent purchaser at the time the contract is signed.

(e) The implied warranties created in this section shall terminate: (1) in the case of an improvement completed at the time of the delivery of the deed to the purchaser, one year after the delivery or one year after the taking of possession by the purchaser, whichever occurs first; and (2) in the case of an improvement not completed at the time of delivery of the deed to the purchaser, one year after the dale of the completion or one year after taking of possession by the purchaser, whichever occurs first.

[T]he one year period allowed by 47-118 (e) does not limit the period within which an action based on the implied warranties provided by the statute must be brought. The one year period from the delivery of the deed or the taking of possession is a limitation upon the period within which an action for breach of warranty may arise, not within which it must be commenced. Cashman v. Calvo, 196 Conn. 509, 511 (1985). CT Page 5251

[A] cause of action under General Statutes 47-118. . . arise[s] when the purchasers discover that a breach of warranty entitling them to recompense has occurred. This interpretation is consistent with 47-118 (b), which limits the warranties to only those defects not apparent to a reasonably diligent purchaser at the time of the contract of sale.

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Bluebook (online)
1991 Conn. Super. Ct. 5248, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/amendola-v-giammattei-no-cv87-0260230-jun-27-1991-connsuperct-1991.