Connecticut General Statutes 47a-26b – Motion and order for payments for use and occupancy
(a) If the defendant appears, the court shall, upon motion and without hearing, unless the defendant files an objection within five days of the filing of the motion, order the defendant to deposit with the court within ten days of the filing of the motion payments for use and occupancy in an amount equal to the last agreed-upon rent or, in the absence of a prior agreed-upon rent, in an amount equal to the fair rental value of the premises during the pendency of such action accruing from the date of such order. If the motion is served upon the defendant with the complaint, the motion shall be deemed for purposes of this section to have been filed on the date on which the defendant appears. If all or a portion of the defendant’s rent is being paid to the plaintiff by a housing authority, municipality, state agency or similar entity, this requirement shall be satisfied if the defendant deposits with the court an amount equal to his portion of the last agreed-upon rent. The motion for use and occupancy payments shall include a statement of the amount of the last agreed-upon rent. The motion shall be filed on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator and shall contain, in clear and simple language, a notice advising the defendant that, if the defendant files an objection within five days of the date the motion was filed, the court will conduct a hearing on the motion prior to entering an order, but, if the defendant does not file an objection during such time period, the court will order use and occupancy payments without a hearing. The form shall also contain a place for the defendant to claim an objection to the motion and notice that the defendant may file an objection at any time. The filing by the plaintiff of a motion for use and occupancy payments shall not suspend the time limits for pleading under § 47a-26a.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 47a-26b
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
(b) Notice to the defendant of an order for use and occupancy payments shall be given on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator. Such form shall state in clear and simple language and in readable format (1) the amount to be paid, (2) the date by which such payment must be received by the clerk, and (3) the consequences of failure to make payment as ordered.
(c) If the defendant files an objection to the motion, a hearing on the objection shall be held not more than seven days after such objection is filed, after which the court shall order the defendant to deposit with the court payments for use and occupancy in an amount equal to the fair rental value of the premises during the pendency of such action accruing from the date of such order. If all or a portion of the defendant’s rent is being paid to the plaintiff by a housing authority, municipality, state agency or similar entity, this requirement shall be satisfied if the defendant deposits with the court an amount equal to his portion of the fair rental value of the premises. The last agreed-upon rent shall be prima facie evidence of the fair rental value of the premises. The party claiming a different amount shall have the burden of proving that the last agreed-upon rent is not the fair rental value. Such order shall permit the payment of such amounts in monthly installments, as such amounts become due. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude either party from subsequently moving to modify the amount of the payment order for cause shown.
(d) If the defendant fails to make such payments as ordered, the clerk shall, immediately and without the filing of a motion, order the defendant to file his answer and, if the defendant fails to do so within four days of the mailing of such order, judgment shall forthwith be entered for the plaintiff. If the defendant files an answer within such four-day period, the clerk shall set such matter down for hearing not less than three nor more than seven days after such answer and reply, if any, are filed.