Emerick v. Commissioner of Public Health

81 A.3d 1217, 147 Conn. App. 292, 2013 WL 6632055, 2013 Conn. App. LEXIS 583
CourtConnecticut Appellate Court
DecidedDecember 24, 2013
DocketAC 35209
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 81 A.3d 1217 (Emerick v. Commissioner of Public Health) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Appellate Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Emerick v. Commissioner of Public Health, 81 A.3d 1217, 147 Conn. App. 292, 2013 WL 6632055, 2013 Conn. App. LEXIS 583 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

Opinion

BEAR, J.

The self-represented plaintiff, Roger Emer-ick, appeals from the summary judgment rendered by the trial court in favor of the defendant town of Glastonbury (town), after that court concluded that the plaintiffs action against the town was barred by governmental immunity.1 On appeal, the plaintiff claims [294]*294that the court erred in rendering judgment in favor of the town. We do not reach the plaintiffs claim because we conclude that he lacked standing in this case and, therefore, that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Accordingly, because the form of the judgment is improper, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the case to that court with direction to render judgment dismissing the action against the town.

The plaintiff filed the present action against the town, the commissioner and the agency; see footnote 1 of this opinion; complaining that the town, pursuant to the instigation of the Department of Public Health (department), wrongfully had removed a diving board from a town swimming pool and replaced it with a “kiddie slide.” He pleaded counts alleging negligence, recklessness and fraud, but did not seek monetary damages; rather, he sought a “declaratory judgment regarding the proper interpretation and application of the [Connecticut] public swimming pool regulations.” The town filed a motion for summary judgment on the ground that it did not owe the plaintiff any duty and that the action against it was barred by governmental immunity. The court agreed and rendered judgment accordingly.2 This appeal followed.3 In its brief to this [295]*295court, the town argued, inter alia, that the trial court was without subject matter jurisdiction on the ground that the plaintiffs request for a declaratory judgment was nonjusticiable, as no practical relief could be afforded because the diving board already had been removed. At the start of oral argument, we asked the parties to address the issue of whether the plaintiff had standing to bring this action against the town. The plaintiff asserted that he had statutory standing pursuant to General Statutes § 4-175, and the town argued that the plaintiff had no standing.

We first must address the issue of whether the plaintiff had standing to bring the present action against the town. “The issue of standing implicates [the] court’s subject matter jurisdiction. . . . Standing is the legal right to set judicial machinery in motion. One cannot rightfully invoke the jurisdiction of the court unless he [or she] has, in an individual or representative capacity, some real interest in the cause of action, or a legal or equitable right, title or interest in the subject matter of the controversy. . . . When standing is put in issue, the question is whether the person whose standing is challenged is a proper party to request an adjudication of the issue .... Standing requires no more than a colorable claim of injury; a [party] ordinarily establishes . . . standing by allegations of injury. Similarly, standing exists to attempt to vindicate arguably protected interests. . . .

“Standing is established by showing that the party claiming it is authorized by statute to bring suit or is classically aggrieved.” (Citations omitted; emphasis omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) AvalonBay Communities, Inc. v. Orange, 256 Conn. 557, 567-68, 775 A.2d 284 (2001). “Classical aggrievement requires [296]*296a two part showing. First, a party must demonstrate a specific, personal and legal interest in the subject matter of the decision, as opposed to a general interest that all members of the community share. . . . Second, the party must also show that the agency’s decision has specially and injuriously affected that specific personal or legal interest. . . . Aggrievement does not demand certainty, only the possibility of an adverse effect on a legally protected interest. . . .

“Statutory aggrievement exists by legislative fiat, not by judicial analysis of the particular facts of the case. In other words, in cases of statutory aggrievement, particular legislation grants standing to those who claim injury to an interest protected by that legislation.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Burton v. Commissioner of Environmental Protection, 291 Conn. 789, 803, 970 A.2d 640 (2009).

The plaintiff argued before this court that he was statutorily aggrieved pursuant to § 4-175. We conclude that the plaintiff has not demonstrated either classical or statutory aggrievement.

“Jurisdiction pursuant to § 4-175, which specifically provides for a declaratory judgment under the [Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, General Statutes § 4-166 et seq.] depends on whether the plaintiffs’ rights or privileges have been threatened or impaired.” Connecticut State Employees Assn., Inc. v. Connecticut Personnel Policy Board, 165 Conn. 448, 452, 334 A.2d 909 (1973); see Connecticut Business & Industry Assn., Inc. v. Commission on Hospitals & Health Care, 218 Conn. 335, 344-45, 589 A.2d 356 (1991). “Standing is not conferred upon a plaintiff merely by virtue of the fact that the complaint recites the provisions of the statute under which it is brought. . . . Rather, a complaint brought pursuant to § 4-175 must set forth facts to support an inference that a provision of the general [297]*297statutes, a regulation or a final decision, or its threatened application, interferes with or impairs, or threatens to interfere with or impair, the legal rights or privileges of the plaintiff.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Stefanoni v. Dept. of Economic & Community Development, 142 Conn. App. 300, 319, 70 A.3d 61, cert. denied, 309 Conn. 907, 68 A.3d 661 (2013).

“A party pursuing declaratory relief must . . . demonstrate ... a justiciable right in the controversy sought to be resolved, that is, contract, property or personal rights ... as such will be affected by the [court’s] decision .... A party without a justiciable right in the matter sought to be adjudicated lacks standing to raise the matter in a declaratory judgment action. ... [A] party who [is] simply a member of the general public who has not demonstrated how [he or] she was harmed in a unique fashion by the conduct [being] challenged in a declaratory judgment action ha[s] failed to establish a colorable claim of direct injury, and accordingly lack[s] standing to maintain the action.” (Citations omitted; emphasis in original; internal quotation marks omitted.) Connecticut Business & Industry Assn., Inc. v. Commission on Hospitals & Health Care, supra, 218 Conn. 348; see Stefanoni v. Dept. of Economic & Community Development, supra, 142 Conn. App. 318.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
81 A.3d 1217, 147 Conn. App. 292, 2013 WL 6632055, 2013 Conn. App. LEXIS 583, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/emerick-v-commissioner-of-public-health-connappct-2013.