Connecticut General Statutes 52-568a – Damages for groundless or vexatious suit against the owner or operator of a “pick or cut your own agricultural operation”
Any person or any attorney who represents such person, who commences any civil action or complaint, in his own name or the name of others, against the owner or operator of a “pick or cut your own agricultural operation” (1) without probable cause, shall pay such owner or operator double damages, including, in the discretion of the court, costs and attorney’s fees, or (2) without probable cause, and with a malicious intent unjustly to vex and trouble such owner or operator, shall pay such owner or operator treble damages including, in the discretion of the court, costs and attorney’s fees. As used in this section, “pick or cut your own agricultural operation” means a farm to whom the Department of Revenue Services has issued a farmer tax exemption permit under subdivision (63) of § 12-412 that allows any person to enter such farm for the purpose of agricultural harvesting, including the cutting of Christmas trees. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or abrogate the provisions of § 52-568.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 52-568a
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- farm: includes farm buildings, and accessory buildings thereto, nurseries, orchards, ranges, greenhouses, hoophouses and other temporary structures or other structures used primarily for the raising and, as an incident to ordinary farming operations, the sale of agricultural or horticultural commodities. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.