Section 52-130 – Amendment of defects, mistakes or informalities

May 11, 2021 | Civil Procedure, Connecticut

Parties may amend any defect, mistake or informality in the pleadings or other parts of the record or proceedings. When either party supposes that in any part of the pleadings he has missed the ground of his plea, and that he can plead a different plea that will save him in his cause, he may change his plea, answer, replication or rejoinder, as the case may be, and plead anew, and the other party shall have reasonable time to answer the same; and, in any case when a party amends or alters any part of the pleadings or pleads anew, if it occasions any delay in the trial or inconvenience to the other party, he shall be liable to pay costs at the discretion of the court. Any court may restrain the amendment or alteration of pleadings, so far as may be necessary to compel the parties to join issue in a reasonable time for trial.

Conn. Gen. Stat. ยง 52-130

(1949 Rev., S. 7852.)

Amending records after term. 4 C. 77; 15 C. 37; 21 C. 530; 25 C. 342. A void process is not amendable. 5 D. 126. Errors in describing parties. 2 R. 57; 3 Conn. 159; 13 C. 53; 19 Conn. 62; 24 C. 13. Date of issuance of process. 41 C. 483. Writ returnable to term already past not amendable. Id., 539, but see 70 C. 348. Amending officer’s return. 65 C. 193. Officer’s return may not be amended after judgment so as to confer jurisdiction. 85 Conn. 327. Return day in writ may not be changed after issuance; 74 Conn. 38; but Supreme Court allowed an appeal to be amended by substituting one year for another. Id., 438. Judgment may be amended during term as to error in substance; at any time as to clerical error. 73 C. 497; 76 C. 113; 81 C. 283; Id., 562. Amending memorandum which directs judgment. 74 Conn. 18. Remittitur and amendment of judgment where damages are excessive. 75 C. 263. Discretion of court to allow amendment when action has been in court 2 years, and complaint repeatedly amended. 81 C. 452. Motion to dismiss amendment improperly allowed, proper. 86 C. 313. Right to amend to be restrained within reasonable limits; filing cross complaint after reservation. 66 Conn. 284; 68 C. 369. Amendment to appeal is to be made in Appellate Court; 72 Conn. 86; on return day. 74 Conn. 438. Amending plea in abatement. 68 C. 474; 73 Conn. 428; 74 C. 125. Court may correct its records. 76 Conn. 113; 81 Conn. 127; 91 C. 383. Amending memorandum of judgment. 74 C. 23. Gives right to amend to accord with proof on trial, subject to right of defendant to amend answer; but court may refuse to allow demurrer where it would not promote speedy issue. 96 C. 395. When amendment offered during trial to remedy mispleading, circumstances of particular case must govern. 115 C. 683. Court may in its discretion allow the filing of amendments to pleadings before, during and after trial. 135 Conn. 170. Harm done defendant by denial of motion far outweighed inconvenience to plaintiff or delay resulting from granting of it and was abuse of court’s discretion. 139 C. 68. Amendment offered during trial which would radically change basis of plaintiff’s cause of action properly refused. Id., 152. Court may in its discretion restrain the amendment of pleadings to prevent unreasonable delay of the trial. 140 C. 689. The courts have followed a liberal policy relative to permitting amendments to pleadings after the expiration of the time during which amendments may be filed as a matter of right. 144 C. 126. Failure to amend complaint at pretrial or within a reasonable time thereafter may constitute sound reason to deny motion. Id., 582. Denial of amendment to conform allegations to proof. Id., 594. Defendant not permitted to amend its answer during trial by adding third defense as this would have injected new issue requiring evidence different in character from that already presented. 155 C. 145. Cited. 177 Conn. 191; 187 Conn. 180; 192 Conn. 558; 215 C. 286; 221 C. 14; Id., 356. Cited. 19 CA 280. Power of court to restrain the amendment or alteration of pleading is to be sparingly exercised. 17 CS 47. Cited. 27 CS 63. Legislature has prescribed liberal policy toward the allowance of amendments to pleadings. 36 CS 126.

See Sec. 52-72 re amendment of process.