Sec. 7-142. Appeal from municipal assessments. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 7-142. Appeal from municipal assessments. Any person aggrieved by the appraisal of damages in laying out any highway or in making any improvement or public work in any city or borough, or by the assessment of benefits therefor, or by any order of the common council of any city in relation to the repair, renewal or change of any highway bridge, may, except in a case where a right of appeal to a court is provided by the charter of the city or borough, appeal from such appraisal, assessment or order, to any judge of the Superior Court within thirty days after due notice is given of such appraisal, assessment or order, which appeal shall be a written petition for reappraisal, reassessment or review of such order, with a citation attached thereto, and returnable in not less than six and not more than twenty days after its date, and shall be served at least six days before the return day upon the clerk of such city or borough. Any number of persons who are similarly affected by any such appraisal, assessment or order may join in taking and prosecuting such appeal. Such judge may, by committee or otherwise, reassess such damages or benefits, or review and revoke, modify or affirm such order, and, if such damages are increased or such assessments of benefits reduced or such order revoked, may award costs against the city or borough, otherwise against the appellant. Such judge shall issue execution for the amount of damages or benefits fixed by such reassessment, and in favor of either party for costs, to be taxed as upon civil process, and, after the proceedings have been closed, return all the papers connected with the case to the clerk of such city or borough, who shall keep them on file.

      (1949 Rev., S. 690, 691; P.A. 76-436, S. 257, 681.)

      History: P.A. 76-436 substituted court of common pleas for superior court, effective July 1, 1978.

      Section is exercise of taxing power and is constitutional. 23 C. 187. Benefits contemplated are those special to the individual and distinct from community benefit. Id. Amount of benefit may be subtracted from that of damage. Id. Compliance with every requirement should appear on the face of the proceedings. Id. Benefits are those only that are immediate, appreciable and certain. 36 C. 256; 42 C. 284; 45 C. 462. Charter authorized assessment of the whole expense of improvement; being in fact within the actual benefit, it was held to be lawful. 39 C. 279; 47 C. 89. When land of railroad company may be assessed. 49 C. 40. Property of state is exempt from assessment, unless as expressly authorized. 50 C. 89. Assessment need not in terms state fact of special benefits, if same may be reasonably inferred therefrom. 51 C. 203. Sewer assessment determined solely upon street frontage is illegal. 35 C. 66. An appeal, by one or several assessed, does not bring up for review the whole assessment.Id. Parallel land of railroad company cannot, under general powers, be taken for highway. 36 C. 256. Track of street railroad assessed for pavement. 38 C. 422. Damages assessed to a third party cannot be inquired into. 39 C. 467. Doings of municipal authorities cannot be collaterally attacked. Id. Question of necessity cannot be raised upon an appeal from assessment. Id.; 47 C. 89. Inadvertent omission of some property will not disturb an assessment unless substantial injustice has resulted. 39 C. 467; 40 C. 512. Appeal should specify facts upon which relief is sought. Id., 503. Paving assessment may be determined solely upon street frontage. Id., 511. Upon appeal, assessment may be approved, increased or diminished. 48 C. 427. Counsel for municipality has no power to arbitrate. 58 C. 157. How person assessed may be estopped. Id. Committee presumed to act lawfully. 71 C. 180. Nature of appeal. 74 C. 192. Cited. 78 C. 572. Remonstrance; issues; harmless error. 80 C. 248; 85 C. 237. On appeal, appraisal to be made as of original assessment. 84 C. 234; 85 C. 237. Issues and burden of proof. 84 C. 319; Id., 386.