Cognata v. Gyn-Ob Specialists

Full title: CAROL COGNATA, ET AL. v. GYN-OB SPECIALISTS, ET AL

Court: Connecticut Superior Court, Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport

Date published: May 17, 1991

1991 Ct. Sup. 4235 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1991)

Opinion

No. CV86 23 35 09

May 17, 1991

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

KATZ, JUDGE.

This case is a medical malpractice case that was dismissed on June 17, 1988. A motion to reopen the Judgment of Dismissal was filed on October 6, 1988 and granted on March 4, 1991. The defendants Motion to Reargue and Motion to Vacate Order Opening Judgment of Dismissal was denied thereafter on March 18, 1991. The defendants requested to file an amended answer and special defense on April 3, 1991.

In response, the plaintiffs have filed a Motion to Strike the defendants' Second Special Defense which asserts that "the court lacks jurisdiction over the above entitled matter because the plaintiffs failed to reopen the judgment of dismissal within the four month period."

The defendants' challenge as set forth in its second special defense is in effect to the court's jurisdiction. This issue is best raised by way of a motion to dismiss which looks to the face of the record. Upson v. State, 190 Conn. 622, 624 (1983). See also Daley v. Hartford, 215 Conn. 14, 27-31 (1990); Stephenson, Conn. Civil Procedure 117h. (2 ED 1982). This is clearly a question of law to be brought before the court and not a question of fact for the jury. See Wetmore v. Wryson, 32 Conn. Sup. 249 (1974) (party's plea of abatement raising issue of jurisdiction not entitled to be determined in a jury trial).

As such, an allegation challenging jurisdiction has no place as a special defense. It is therefore stricken.

KATZ, JUDGE