{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-11", "fingerprint": "ewai:us:e0b409", "proof": "sha256:9815c7dda75242a606293af2486e593629d924183dda30b076317b02842f5522", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor" }, "sections": [ { "title": "", "paragraphs": [ "para_1" ] }, { "title": "The “officially released” date that appears near the", "paragraphs": [ "para_3", "para_4", "para_5", "para_6", "para_7", "para_8" ] }, { "title": "All opinions are subject to modification and technical", "paragraphs": [ "para_10", "para_11" ] }, { "title": "Reports or Connecticut Appellate Reports. In the event", "paragraphs": [ "para_13", "para_14" ] }, { "title": "Law Journal and subsequently in the Connecticut Reports", "paragraphs": [ "para_16", "para_17" ] }, { "title": "The syllabus and procedural history accompanying an", "paragraphs": [ "para_19", "para_20" ] }, { "title": "Appellate Reports are copyrighted by the Secretary of the", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "State, State of Connecticut, and may not be reproduced", "paragraphs": [ "para_23", "para_24", "para_25", "para_26", "para_27" ] }, { "title": "(AC 48214)", "paragraphs": [ "para_29" ] }, { "title": "Syllabus", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The defendant appealed from the trial court’s judgment finding that the", "paragraphs": [ "para_32" ] }, { "title": "(§ 42-110a et seq.) by charging the plaintiff unauthorized storage fees for its", "paragraphs": [ "para_34", "para_35", "para_36", "para_37", "para_38", "para_39", "para_40", "para_41" ] }, { "title": "The trial court erroneously concluded that the defendant violated CUTPA by", "paragraphs": [ "para_43", "para_44", "para_45", "para_46", "para_47", "para_48", "para_49", "para_50" ] }, { "title": "Argued November 17, 2025—officially released March 17, 2026", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Procedural History", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Action to recover damages for, inter alia, alleged vio-", "paragraphs": [ "para_54", "para_55", "para_56", "para_57", "para_58", "para_59", "para_60", "para_61" ] }, { "title": "Christopher G. Brown, for the appellant (named defen-", "paragraphs": [ "para_63" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCOpinion", "paragraphs": [ "para_65", "para_66", "para_67", "para_68", "para_69" ] }, { "title": "Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), General Statutes", "paragraphs": [ "para_71", "para_72", "para_73", "para_74", "para_75", "para_76", "para_77", "para_78", "para_79", "para_80" ] }, { "title": "1 Although Master Aviation, Inc., and SSSuperstar, LLC, also are", "paragraphs": [ "para_82" ] }, { "title": "We therefore refer to Tango Yankee, LLC, doing business as Business", "paragraphs": [ "para_84" ] }, { "title": "2 General Statutes § 49-92g provides: “Any person who stores, cares", "paragraphs": [ "para_86", "para_87", "para_88", "para_89", "para_90", "para_91", "para_92", "para_93", "para_94", "para_95", "para_96", "para_97", "para_98", "para_99", "para_100", "para_101" ] }, { "title": "3 The plaintiff did not file a brief in this appeal and did not attend", "paragraphs": [ "para_103", "para_104", "para_105", "para_106" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCcorporation, Sergio Morgandinho, [was] a pilot for thirty", "paragraphs": [ "para_108", "para_109" ] }, { "title": "2016, Morgandinho flew the plane from Maryland [where", "paragraphs": [ "para_111", "para_112", "para_113", "para_114" ] }, { "title": "Aviation was one of the few companies nationally [that", "paragraphs": [ "para_116", "para_117" ] }, { "title": "The plane needed to be worked on [because] it had sat idle", "paragraphs": [ "para_119", "para_120", "para_121", "para_122", "para_123", "para_124", "para_125", "para_126", "para_127", "para_128", "para_129", "para_130", "para_131", "para_132", "para_133", "para_134", "para_135", "para_136", "para_137", "para_138", "para_139", "para_140", "para_141", "para_142", "para_143", "para_144", "para_145", "para_146", "para_147", "para_148", "para_149", "para_150", "para_151" ] }, { "title": "2017. At that time, Speakmaster entered a ‘return to", "paragraphs": [ "para_153", "para_154", "para_155", "para_156", "para_157", "para_158", "para_159", "para_160", "para_161", "para_162", "para_163", "para_164", "para_165", "para_166", "para_167" ] }, { "title": "United States in late April, 2018. At that time, he spoke", "paragraphs": [ "para_169" ] }, { "title": "2018 be done because the existing certification would", "paragraphs": [ "para_171", "para_172" ] }, { "title": "2018, when Speakmaster sent a text [message] saying", "paragraphs": [ "para_174" ] }, { "title": "Morgandinho inquired about the bill for the certifications", "paragraphs": [ "para_176", "para_177", "para_178", "para_179", "para_180", "para_181", "para_182", "para_183", "para_184", "para_185", "para_186" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLC2019, in which Morgandinho repeatedly asked for proof", "paragraphs": [ "para_188", "para_189", "para_190", "para_191", "para_192", "para_193", "para_194", "para_195" ] }, { "title": "2019, for the balance due. . . . By May, 2019, Morgan-", "paragraphs": [ "para_197", "para_198" ] }, { "title": "Speakmaster also indicated in an October 25, 2019 text", "paragraphs": [ "para_200", "para_201", "para_202", "para_203", "para_204", "para_205", "para_206", "para_207", "para_208", "para_209", "para_210", "para_211", "para_212", "para_213", "para_214", "para_215", "para_216", "para_217", "para_218", "para_219", "para_220", "para_221", "para_222", "para_223", "para_224", "para_225" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCunpaid, Master Aviation would commence the process", "paragraphs": [ "para_227", "para_228", "para_229", "para_230", "para_231", "para_232", "para_233", "para_234", "para_235", "para_236", "para_237", "para_238" ] }, { "title": "Morgandinho because he never envisioned that the plane", "paragraphs": [ "para_240", "para_241", "para_242" ] }, { "title": "Speakmaster that he should take care of any parking", "paragraphs": [ "para_244", "para_245" ] }, { "title": "He offered to come pick up the plane to remove it from", "paragraphs": [ "para_247", "para_248", "para_249", "para_250", "para_251" ] }, { "title": "Santo Silvestro, the owners of [the defendant], who", "paragraphs": [ "para_253" ] }, { "title": "The email noted that ‘[the] aircraft has been sitting", "paragraphs": [ "para_255", "para_256", "para_257" ] }, { "title": "Responding the same day, Morgandinho asked, ‘Who", "paragraphs": [ "para_259", "para_260", "para_261" ] }, { "title": "4 Speakmaster testified that he only leased three spaces in the hangar", "paragraphs": [ "para_263", "para_264" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCIn turn, Morgandinho stated [that] he had never heard", "paragraphs": [ "para_266", "para_267", "para_268", "para_269", "para_270", "para_271", "para_272", "para_273", "para_274", "para_275", "para_276", "para_277", "para_278", "para_279", "para_280", "para_281", "para_282", "para_283", "para_284", "para_285", "para_286", "para_287", "para_288", "para_289", "para_290" ] }, { "title": "Aviation to be responsible for any such fees as he had", "paragraphs": [ "para_292", "para_293", "para_294" ] }, { "title": "Aviation for the 2018 invoice of $12,311.81 and [the", "paragraphs": [ "para_296", "para_297" ] }, { "title": "Aviation’s lien for the invoiced amount was filed with", "paragraphs": [ "para_299", "para_300" ] }, { "title": "5 It was disputed at trial whether or when the plaintiff learned of the", "paragraphs": [ "para_302", "para_303" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe State’s office on November 15, 2021. . . . That lien", "paragraphs": [ "para_305", "para_306", "para_307", "para_308", "para_309", "para_310", "para_311", "para_312", "para_313", "para_314", "para_315", "para_316", "para_317", "para_318", "para_319", "para_320" ] }, { "title": "General Statutes § 49-92h (a), McLaughlin sent notice", "paragraphs": [ "para_322" ] }, { "title": "9058 Major Smith Lane, Frederick, Maryland address", "paragraphs": [ "para_324", "para_325", "para_326" ] }, { "title": "2021. . . . [T]he letter was issued for the purpose of advis-", "paragraphs": [ "para_328", "para_329", "para_330", "para_331" ] }, { "title": "2022, and . . . the notice was published in the Danbury", "paragraphs": [ "para_333", "para_334", "para_335", "para_336", "para_337", "para_338", "para_339", "para_340", "para_341", "para_342" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCSSSuperstar, LLC [(SSSuperstar)], for the purpose of", "paragraphs": [ "para_344", "para_345", "para_346" ] }, { "title": "($12,311.81) and [the defendant] ($5970) were paid.6", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SSSuperstar claimed that, after acquiring the plane, it", "paragraphs": [ "para_349", "para_350", "para_351", "para_352", "para_353" ] }, { "title": "Speakmaster confirmed that, as of the time of the auc-", "paragraphs": [ "para_355", "para_356", "para_357", "para_358", "para_359", "para_360", "para_361", "para_362", "para_363", "para_364", "para_365", "para_366", "para_367", "para_368" ] }, { "title": "The plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages", "paragraphs": [ "para_370", "para_371" ] }, { "title": "2023, the plaintiff alleged, inter alia, that the defendant", "paragraphs": [ "para_373" ] }, { "title": "6 “Lynda Sylvestro testified that the May 12, 2017 date for commence-", "paragraphs": [ "para_375", "para_376", "para_377", "para_378", "para_379", "para_380", "para_381", "para_382" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCdefendant were unauthorized in that the plaintiff had", "paragraphs": [ "para_384", "para_385", "para_386" ] }, { "title": "On November 6, 2024, following a trial to the court", "paragraphs": [ "para_388", "para_389", "para_390", "para_391", "para_392", "para_393", "para_394", "para_395", "para_396", "para_397", "para_398", "para_399", "para_400", "para_401", "para_402", "para_403", "para_404", "para_405", "para_406", "para_407", "para_408", "para_409", "para_410", "para_411", "para_412", "para_413" ] }, { "title": "7 The plaintiff also alleged conversion as to the defendant and SSSu-", "paragraphs": [ "para_415" ] }, { "title": "8 The court found in favor of the defendant and SSSuperstar on the", "paragraphs": [ "para_417", "para_418" ] }, { "title": "CUTPA claim against Master Aviation. Those rulings have not been", "paragraphs": [ "para_420" ] }, { "title": "9 The court also concluded: “There was also a lack of any evidence", "paragraphs": [ "para_422", "para_423" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCactions and inaction constitute a basis for the finding", "paragraphs": [ "para_425", "para_426", "para_427", "para_428", "para_429", "para_430" ] }, { "title": "As to damages, the court explained: “There was suf-", "paragraphs": [ "para_432", "para_433", "para_434", "para_435", "para_436", "para_437", "para_438", "para_439", "para_440", "para_441", "para_442", "para_443", "para_444", "para_445", "para_446", "para_447", "para_448", "para_449", "para_450", "para_451", "para_452", "para_453", "para_454", "para_455", "para_456" ] }, { "title": "10 In so doing, the court reasoned: “The court has previously noted", "paragraphs": [ "para_458", "para_459", "para_460", "para_461" ] }, { "title": "August, 2019, and February, 2020. Yet there is no evidence that he", "paragraphs": [ "para_463", "para_464", "para_465", "para_466" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe court ordered: “The judgments as to [the plaintiff’s", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "CUTPA claims] shall enter jointly and severally as to", "paragraphs": [ "para_469", "para_470", "para_471", "para_472" ] }, { "title": "On appeal, the defendant claims that the court erred", "paragraphs": [ "para_474", "para_475", "para_476", "para_477", "para_478", "para_479", "para_480", "para_481", "para_482", "para_483", "para_484", "para_485", "para_486", "para_487", "para_488", "para_489", "para_490", "para_491", "para_492", "para_493", "para_494", "para_495", "para_496", "para_497" ] }, { "title": "Further, there were significant periods of time when Morgandinho was", "paragraphs": [ "para_499", "para_500", "para_501", "para_502", "para_503", "para_504", "para_505", "para_506", "para_507", "para_508", "para_509", "para_510", "para_511", "para_512" ] }, { "title": "264 A.3d 184 (2021).11", "paragraphs": [ "para_514", "para_515" ] }, { "title": "CUTPA, is a question of fact for the trier, to which, on", "paragraphs": [ "para_517" ] }, { "title": "(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., 96. Here, how-", "paragraphs": [ "para_519", "para_520", "para_521", "para_522", "para_523", "para_524" ] }, { "title": "Statutes § 1-2z directs us first to consider the text of the", "paragraphs": [ "para_526" ] }, { "title": "11 We also are mindful that, in evaluating whether the defendant’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_528", "para_529", "para_530" ] }, { "title": "It must be substantial; it must not be outweighed by any countervailing", "paragraphs": [ "para_532", "para_533", "para_534" ] }, { "title": "America, N.A., 333 Conn. 769, 802, 219 A.3d 767 (2019). Not only did", "paragraphs": [ "para_536", "para_537" ] }, { "title": "General Statutes § 49-92h (b) (“[t]he owner of the aircraft, or anyone", "paragraphs": [ "para_539", "para_540", "para_541", "para_542", "para_543", "para_544" ] }, { "title": "We also agree with the defendant’s argument that, to the extent the", "paragraphs": [ "para_546", "para_547", "para_548", "para_549" ] }, { "title": "Services Corp. v. New London Motors, Inc., 205 Conn. 479, 484, 533", "paragraphs": [ "para_551" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCafter examining such text and considering such relation-", "paragraphs": [ "para_553", "para_554", "para_555", "para_556", "para_557" ] }, { "title": "Section 49-92g, which establishes the statutory frame-", "paragraphs": [ "para_559", "para_560", "para_561", "para_562", "para_563", "para_564", "para_565", "para_566", "para_567", "para_568", "para_569", "para_570", "para_571", "para_572", "para_573", "para_574" ] }, { "title": "Black’s Law Dictionary defines legal possessor as “[o]ne", "paragraphs": [ "para_576", "para_577" ] }, { "title": "Dictionary (9th Ed. 2009) p. 1283. To possess means “[t]o", "paragraphs": [ "para_579", "para_580", "para_581", "para_582", "para_583", "para_584", "para_585", "para_586", "para_587", "para_588" ] }, { "title": "Master Aviation when Morgandinho placed the aircraft", "paragraphs": [ "para_590" ] }, { "title": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe repairs requested by the plaintiff and later moved", "paragraphs": [ "para_592", "para_593", "para_594", "para_595", "para_596", "para_597", "para_598", "para_599", "para_600", "para_601", "para_602" ] }, { "title": "The judgment is reversed as to the plaintiff’s CUTPA", "paragraphs": [ "para_604", "para_605", "para_606", "para_607", "para_608" ] }, { "title": "12 In light of this conclusion, we need not address the defendant’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_610", "para_611" ] } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "************************************************", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "The “officially released” date that appears near the", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "beginning of an opinion is the date the opinion will be", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "published in the Connecticut Law Journal or the date it", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "is released as a slip opinion. The operative date for the", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "beginning of all time periods for the filing of postopinion", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "motions and petitions for certification is the “officially", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "released” date appearing in the opinion.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "All opinions are subject to modification and technical", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "correction prior to official publication in the Connecti-", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "cut Law Journal and subsequently in the Connecticut", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Reports or Connecticut Appellate Reports. In the event", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "of discrepancies between the advance release version of", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "an opinion and the version appearing in the Connecticut", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "Law Journal and subsequently in the Connecticut Reports", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "or Connecticut Appellate Reports, the latest version is", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "to be considered authoritative.", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "The syllabus and procedural history accompanying an", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "opinion that appear in the Connecticut Law Journal and", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "subsequently in the Connecticut Reports or Connecticut", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "Appellate Reports are copyrighted by the Secretary of the", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "State, State of Connecticut, and may not be reproduced", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "or distributed without the express written permission of", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "the Commission on Official Legal Publications, Judicial", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "Branch, State of Connecticut.", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "************************************************", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCSNM II CORP. v. TANGO YANKEE, LLC, ET AL.", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "(AC 48214)", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "Cradle, C. J., and Elgo and Moll, Js.", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "Syllabus", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "The defendant appealed from the trial court’s judgment finding that the", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "defendant had violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA)", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "(§ 42-110a et seq.) by charging the plaintiff unauthorized storage fees for its", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "airplane. The plaintiff had delivered the plane to M Co. for certain service and", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "repair work. The plaintiff and M Co. became involved in a dispute regarding", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "payment for that work, and M Co. moved the plane to the defendant’s property", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "for storage. On appeal, the defendant claimed that the court erroneously", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "concluded that it violated CUTPA by charging the plaintiff storage fees", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "because those fees were authorized pursuant to statute (§ 49-92g), in that", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "it stored the plane at the request of M Co., which was the legal possessor of", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "the plane at that time. Held:", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "The trial court erroneously concluded that the defendant violated CUTPA by", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "charging the plaintiff storage fees for the plane without the request or consent", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "of the plaintiff, as M Co. was in control of the plane after the plaintiff placed", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "the aircraft in its possession, when M Co. performed the repairs requested", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "by the plaintiff and when M Co. moved the plane to the defendant’s property", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "for storage, and, accordingly, because M Co. was the legal possessor of the", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "plane when it requested that the defendant store the plane, the plain language", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "of § 49-92g authorized the defendant to charge the plaintiff for storing the", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "plane and to file a lien on the plane when the storage charges were not paid.", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "Argued November 17, 2025—officially released March 17, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "Procedural History", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "Action to recover damages for, inter alia, alleged vio-", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "lations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act,", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "and for other relief, brought to the Superior Court in", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "the judicial district of Danbury, where Master Aviation,", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "Inc., was cited in as an additional defendant; thereafter,", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "the case was tried to the court, Shaban, J.; judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "in part for the plaintiff, from which the named defen-", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "dant appealed to this court. Reversed in part; judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "directed.", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "Christopher G. Brown, for the appellant (named defen-", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "dant).", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCOpinion", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "CRADLE, C. J. The defendant Tango Yankee, LLC,", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "doing business as Business Aircraft Center,1 appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "from the judgment of the trial court, following a court", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "trial, rendered in favor of the plaintiff, SNM II Corp., on", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "the ground that the defendant violated the Connecticut", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), General Statutes", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "§ 42-110a et seq., by charging the plaintiff unauthorized", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "storage fees for its airplane. Because we conclude that", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "the storage fees charged by the defendant were autho-", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "rized under General Statutes § 49-92g,2 we reverse the", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "judgment of the trial court.3", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "The following facts, as set forth by the trial court,", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "and procedural history are relevant to our resolution of", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "this appeal. “In 2016, [the plaintiff] was the registered", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "owner of a Piper Aerostar 601P/700P airplane Iden-", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "tity Number N800FY. The principal of the [plaintiff]", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "1 Although Master Aviation, Inc., and SSSuperstar, LLC, also are", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "defendants in this action, they have not participated in this appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "We therefore refer to Tango Yankee, LLC, doing business as Business", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "Aircraft Center, as the defendant in this opinion.", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "2 General Statutes § 49-92g provides: “Any person who stores, cares", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "for, maintains, repairs, or furnishes any services, gasoline, accessories,", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "materials or other supplies at the request of or with the consent of the", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "owner, his agent or legal possessor of an aircraft, as defined in sec-", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "tion 15-34, has a lien upon the aircraft until the sum due for any fees,", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "expenses or charges for such storage, care, maintenance or repair or the", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "furnishing of such services, gasoline, accessories, materials or other", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "supplies has been paid. The lienor shall be entitled to retain possession", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "of the aircraft until the amount of fees, expenses or charges for such", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "storage, care, maintenance or repair or the furnishing of such services,", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "gasoline, accessories, materials or other supplies has been paid or the lien", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "has been dissolved. The lien shall be superior to all other liens, except", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "liens for taxes. Any person entitled to a lien pursuant to this section", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "shall, within ninety days after the date upon which work or services were", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "performed or when such fees, expenses or charges were incurred, file a", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "verified statement in the office of the Secretary of the State, pursuant", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "to the provisions of sections 49-92h and 49-92i.”", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "3 The plaintiff did not file a brief in this appeal and did not attend", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "oral argument before this court. We, therefore, have considered this", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "appeal on the basis of the defendant’s brief and oral argument, the clerk", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "appendix, and the record. See, e.g., Marino v. Marino, 222 Conn. App.", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "902, 903 n.1, 302 A.3d 953 (2023).", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCcorporation, Sergio Morgandinho, [was] a pilot for thirty", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "years, [and] . . . [the plaintiff] had been the owner . . . of", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "the six seater twin engine plane since 2005. In the fall of", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "2016, Morgandinho flew the plane from Maryland [where", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "he resided] to the airport in Danbury . . . to be inspected", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "by Master Aviation [Inc. (Master Aviation)] [because]", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "he had an individual who was interested in purchasing", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "the plane. The plane was brought there because Master", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "Aviation was one of the few companies nationally [that", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "was] experienced enough to work on such planes given", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "both its age and that they were no longer in production.", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "The plane needed to be worked on [because] it had sat idle", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "for nearly five years while being held as evidence due to a", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "federal investigation of the plane’s prior servicer. Once it", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "was in Danbury, Morgandinho left the plane’s logbooks", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "with the president of [Master Aviation], [Alan Speak-", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "master], so that he could enter Federal Aviation Admin-", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "istration (FAA) mandated annual certifications into", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "them following any necessary service or repair work. .", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": ". . Following his initial inspection of the plane, Speak-", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "master determined that it was in such poor condition", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "that it should not be flown any further and made clear to", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "the potential buyer [that] he should not purchase it. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "“[A]lthough an annual certification of the plane’s air-", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "worthiness would typically take between thirty [and]", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "sixty days, Morgandinho expected the work to take", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "approximately three to six months given the plane’s con-", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "dition. The plaintiff then agreed to hire Master Aviation", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "to perform the services necessary to place the plane into a", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "safe operating condition and have its annual certification", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "performed for 2017. Based on his initial review, Speak-", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "master estimated the repair costs to be approximately", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "$25,000. After a more detailed inspection, Speakmas-", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "ter informed the plaintiff that the [plane] was unsafe", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "to fly and that the cost to make all [of] the necessary", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "repairs to obtain a certification would be approximately", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "$50,000. [Morgandinho] agreed and made the payment of", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "$50,000 on February 7, 2017, and the work on the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "commenced. On July 11, 2017, Master Aviation billed", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "the plaintiff for work done to that date, which totaled", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLC$73,017.93, leaving a balance due of $23,017.93. All bills", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "were sent to Morgandinho by email. The plaintiff made", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "three separate payments on July 11, September 8 and", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "October 25, 2017, which completely paid off the bill. .", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": ". . The work was completed sometime around September,", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "2017. At that time, Speakmaster entered a ‘return to", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "service’ notation into the logbook (i.e., the certification", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "that the plane was airworthy), contacted [Morgandinho]", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "and informed him the plane was ready and asked him to", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "come up to fly the plane. Although Morgandinho twice", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "told Speakmaster he would do so, he did not come. Mor-", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "gandinho claimed he did not pick up the plane in 2017", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "because he had not received the certification from Master", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "Aviation that he had specifically asked be sent to him.", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "Once Speakmaster had finished working on the plane,", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "he had it removed from the hangar where the work had", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "been done and moved to a ‘tie-down’ space on the tarmac", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "at the airport.", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "“In the late fall of 2017, Morgandinho’s mother became", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "ill, which caused him to leave the country and attend to", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "her in Portugal for several months. He returned to the", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "United States in late April, 2018. At that time, he spoke", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "to Speakmaster and asked that a new certification for", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "2018 be done because the existing certification would", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "expire in June, 2018. Speakmaster agreed to do so but", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "Morgandinho did not hear from him until December,", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "2018, when Speakmaster sent a text [message] saying", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "[that] the annual certification had been done. When", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "Morgandinho inquired about the bill for the certifications", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "for 2017 and 2018, Speakmaster notified him that there", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "was an additional bill for $12,311.81, which was invoiced", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "on December 3, 2018. . . . In a contentious and heated", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "phone conversation, Morgandinho repeatedly asked for", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "proof of the certifications for 2017 and 2018 but was not", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "given any response. He then indicated to Speakmaster", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "that he did not have the funds to immediately pay the", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "additional bill but said [that] if he could pick up the", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "plane and complete the sale to an interested buyer, he", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "could then do so. A series of [text messages] between", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "the parties ensued between January 7 and October 25,", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLC2019, in which Morgandinho repeatedly asked for proof", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "of the certifications and/or the logbooks [because] he had", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "potential buyers for the plane and wanted to come pick it", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "up. Morgandinho specifically asked for the certifications", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "on January 22 and 25, twice on January 30, May 1, [in]", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "June, June 12 and October 25, 2019. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "“Because of the statutory ninety day limit for the filing", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "of a statutory lien for work done on the plane, Master", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "Aviation filed its lien against the plane on February 4,", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "2019, for the balance due. . . . By May, 2019, Morgan-", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "dinho had learned that Master Aviation had put the lien", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "on the plane [because] Speakmaster sent him a copy. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "Speakmaster also indicated in an October 25, 2019 text", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "[message] that, because the bill had not been paid, he had", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "removed seats and navigational equipment from the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "so that it could not be taken by Morgandinho before he", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "had made payment. . . . Eventually, Morgandinho offered", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "to pay the bill provided that Speakmaster [produce] the", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "certifications. Speakmaster offered to accept $50 per", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "month toward the bill and that Morgandinho could then", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "come get the certifications. [Although] Speakmaster", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": ". . . could have easily sent a copy of the certifications by", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "text [message] . . . by that point, no matter what Mor-", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "gandinho proposed, he was uncomfortable with him and", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "did not trust him. For example, in the October 25, 2019", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "text [message], Morgandinho asked that an updated cer-", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "tification be done for 2019. Speakmaster conceded that", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "he ignored this request because he found it ‘disgusting’", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "given that he had not been paid for the 2017 and 2018", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "certifications. A review of the text exchanges makes", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "it abundantly clear that both parties were so greatly", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "frustrated with the other that neither party was will-", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "ing to accept the other’s offers, thereby resulting in an", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "absolute stalemate.", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "“By October 9, 2019, Master Aviation had its counsel", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "issue a letter to [the plaintiff], to Morgandinho’s atten-", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "tion, stating [that] it had liened the plane for the amount", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "due, that there had been no action brought to dissolve the", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "lien or substitute a bond, and that, if the debt remained", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCunpaid, Master Aviation would commence the process", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "of auctioning the plane to satisfy the lien pursuant to", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": ". . . § 49-92g et seq. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "“The work performed by Master Aviation was done at", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "a hangar located at [the] Danbury airport. At that time,", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "approximately one third of the space in the hangar . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "was leased from [the defendant] doing business as Busi-", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "ness Aircraft Center. Because of the length of time that", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "the dispute lasted, Speakmaster had moved the plane to", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "one of the sixty spots available on the tarmac and had it", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "tied down at that spot.4 That space was owned by [the", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "defendant], which charged storage fees for the use of its", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "space. Speakmaster never discussed storage fees with", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "Morgandinho because he never envisioned that the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "would be left at the airport for a long period of time. In", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "the October 25, 2019 text [message], given the length", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "of time the dispute had carried on, Morgandinho told", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "Speakmaster that he should take care of any parking", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "fees (i.e., storage costs) [because] it was ‘not my fault", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "you prevented me from picking up the aircraft.’ . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "He offered to come pick up the plane to remove it from", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "the airport if it was a problem. Speakmaster repeatedly", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "responded by demanding payment of the bill first before", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "he would release the plane.", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "“Some four months later, on February 27, 2020, the", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "plaintiff was contacted through email by Lynda and", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "Santo Silvestro, the owners of [the defendant], who", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "inquired as to why the [storage] bill had not been paid.", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "The email noted that ‘[the] aircraft has been sitting", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "in a tie-down spot at my business for over [eighteen]", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "months and we need to get payment. This aircraft will", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "not leave our premises until we . . . are made whole.’", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "Responding the same day, Morgandinho asked, ‘Who", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "are you?’ Lynda Silvestro . . . responded by stating she", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "was the owner of [the defendant]. . . . Morgandinho", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "then called Lynda Silvestro, who demanded payment.", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "4 Speakmaster testified that he only leased three spaces in the hangar", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "and that it was customary for him to ask the defendant to move planes", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "from the hangar to a tie-down spot after he serviced them.", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCIn turn, Morgandinho stated [that] he had never heard", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "of them before and had never authorized the plane to be", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "placed onto their property. There was no evidence that,", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "as [the plaintiff’s] agent, Morgandinho ever asked or", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "consented, either directly or indirectly, to Master Avia-", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "tion moving the plane to be tied down on the area of the", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "tarmac controlled by [the defendant]. Nor was there any", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "evidence produced of any contact or an oral or written", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "agreement between [the defendant] and [the plaintiff]", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "for the charging of storage fees.", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "“The email sent by the Silvestros referenced certified", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "letters that had been sent to Morgandinho that were", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "returned and noted by the post office as unable to be for-", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "warded. Morgandinho claimed that he had never received", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "any such letters in any form. He also noted that he had", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "never heard of [the defendant] and had not given either", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "[the defendant], or the Silvestros individually, his email", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "address. In speaking to Lynda Silvestro, Morgandinho", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "told her that Master Aviation, through Speakmaster,", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "had never told him that he would be charged for storage", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "by anyone. During that conversation, Morgandinho first", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "learned of [the defendant] having placed a lien on the", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "plane for the storage fees and indicated that he had not", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "been served by a marshal, certified mail, or otherwise. He", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "spoke to Santo Silvestro the next day and told him the", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "same thing.5 He made clear that he considered Master", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "Aviation to be responsible for any such fees as he had", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "not authorized it to place the plane on [the defendant’s]", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "property. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "“As a result of the plaintiff having failed to pay Master", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "Aviation for the 2018 invoice of $12,311.81 and [the", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "defendant’s] claimed [storage] fee of $5970, both parties", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "placed a lien on the plane pursuant to [§ 49-92g]. Master", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "Aviation’s lien for the invoiced amount was filed with", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "the Secretary of the State’s office on February 4, 2019. .", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": ". . [The defendant’s] lien was filed with the Secretary of", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "5 It was disputed at trial whether or when the plaintiff learned of the", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "liens placed on his plane. The court’s determinations as to when and", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "how the plaintiff was notified of the liens are not at issue in this appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe State’s office on November 15, 2021. . . . That lien", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "claimed storage fees for the period May 12, 2017, until", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "the date of filing . . . . The November 15, 2021 date was", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "the end date of the lien [because] Santo Silvestro, without", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "any input from the plaintiff, directed [that] the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "be put in the hangar since he intended to have the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "auctioned off to pay the lien.", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "“In late 2021, [the defendant] retained counsel expe-", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "rienced in aviation law, James McLaughlin, to initiate", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "the procedures provided by [§ 49-92g et seq.] for the col-", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "lection of its invoice. McLaughlin obtained the mailing", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "address of [the plaintiff] from the registration form on", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "file with the FAA. . . . The registration form was issued", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "on October 16, 2018, was valid through October 31, 2021,", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "and referenced an address of 9058 Major Smith Lane,", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "Frederick, Maryland. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "“Consistent with the information on the FAA form and", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "General Statutes § 49-92h (a), McLaughlin sent notice", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "of the lien and auction procedure to [the plaintiff] at the", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "9058 Major Smith Lane, Frederick, Maryland address", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "by certified mail on November 16, 2021. Receipt of the", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "notice was acknowledged and verified by the United", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "States Postal Service by document dated November 18,", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "2021. . . . [T]he letter was issued for the purpose of advis-", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "ing [the plaintiff] and Morgandinho of [the defendant’s]", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "lien having been placed on the plane and of the auction", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "procedure pursuant to the General Statutes. . . . [T]he", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "notice called for the auction to be held on January 19,", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "2022, and . . . the notice was published in the Danbury", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "News-Times newspaper on December 13, 20 and 27, 2021,", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "in accordance with the statute. . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "“[The plaintiff] received the letter and had notice of", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "the lien and auction procedure. No court action was taken", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "by [the plaintiff] to contest the lien. An auction was held", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "on January 19, 2022, as scheduled. At the time of the", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "auction, the plane had been at the [Danbury] airport", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "for approximately five years. The paint on the plane", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "had begun to peel and rust was showing. Shortly before", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "the auction, Santo Silvestro created a new company,", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCSSSuperstar, LLC [(SSSuperstar)], for the purpose of", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "bidding on the plane. That company was the only bidder", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "at the time of the auction. From the proceeds of the sale,", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "the full amount of the liens of both Master Aviation", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "($12,311.81) and [the defendant] ($5970) were paid.6", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "SSSuperstar claimed that, after acquiring the plane, it", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "spent over $100,000 in repairs to make the plane capable", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "of flying and to be certified for the current year. It is", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "clear that some repairs had become necessary due to", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "the plane’s condition having deteriorated over such a", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "lengthy time sitting idle on the tarmac at the airport.", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "Speakmaster confirmed that, as of the time of the auc-", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "tion, the plane’s condition had deteriorated [because it", "paragraph_id": "para_355" }, { "text": "had not] been maintained and that SSSuperstar ‘had", "paragraph_id": "para_356" }, { "text": "to spend a fortune’ to bring the plane back to a flyable", "paragraph_id": "para_357" }, { "text": "condition. However, no documentation was produced", "paragraph_id": "para_358" }, { "text": "by either Speakmaster or SSSuperstar to evidence the", "paragraph_id": "para_359" }, { "text": "claimed expenditures. Following whatever repairs to the", "paragraph_id": "para_360" }, { "text": "plane had been made, SSSuperstar engaged a broker to", "paragraph_id": "para_361" }, { "text": "sell it and it was eventually sold to a third party . . . for", "paragraph_id": "para_362" }, { "text": "approximately $142,500.", "paragraph_id": "para_363" }, { "text": "“Subsequent to the auction, Morgandinho found out", "paragraph_id": "para_364" }, { "text": "about the sale of the plane through information discov-", "paragraph_id": "para_365" }, { "text": "ered on the Internet. He never received any paperwork", "paragraph_id": "para_366" }, { "text": "regarding the plane’s sale following the auction.” (Cita-", "paragraph_id": "para_367" }, { "text": "tions omitted; footnotes added; footnote in original.)", "paragraph_id": "para_368" }, { "text": "The plaintiff commenced this action seeking damages", "paragraph_id": "para_369" }, { "text": "for the alleged unauthorized sale of its plane. In the", "paragraph_id": "para_370" }, { "text": "operative five count complaint, filed on November 27,", "paragraph_id": "para_371" }, { "text": "2023, the plaintiff alleged, inter alia, that the defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_372" }, { "text": "violated CUTPA because the storage fees charged by the", "paragraph_id": "para_373" }, { "text": "6 “Lynda Sylvestro testified that the May 12, 2017 date for commence-", "paragraph_id": "para_374" }, { "text": "ment of services on the lien was incorrect as amounts due for 2018", "paragraph_id": "para_375" }, { "text": "and prior years had been written off. She stated the start date for any", "paragraph_id": "para_376" }, { "text": "amounts due should have been from January 1, 2019, forward. Also,", "paragraph_id": "para_377" }, { "text": "defendants’ exhibit A is a Tango Yankee, LLC, invoice showing a bal-", "paragraph_id": "para_378" }, { "text": "ance due of $7405 for the period July 1, 2019, to January 1, 2022, and", "paragraph_id": "para_379" }, { "text": "marked as having been paid in full. The payment was made out of the", "paragraph_id": "para_380" }, { "text": "proceeds of the auction of the plane even though the lien filed was for", "paragraph_id": "para_381" }, { "text": "a different period of time and for a different amount.”", "paragraph_id": "para_382" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCdefendant were unauthorized in that the plaintiff had", "paragraph_id": "para_383" }, { "text": "never requested or consented to the storage of its plane", "paragraph_id": "para_384" }, { "text": "by the defendant.7 The defendant denied the allegations", "paragraph_id": "para_385" }, { "text": "of the plaintiff’s complaint.", "paragraph_id": "para_386" }, { "text": "On November 6, 2024, following a trial to the court", "paragraph_id": "para_387" }, { "text": "and the filing of posttrial briefs by the parties, the court", "paragraph_id": "para_388" }, { "text": "filed a memorandum of decision finding, inter alia, in", "paragraph_id": "para_389" }, { "text": "favor of the plaintiff on its CUTPA claim against the", "paragraph_id": "para_390" }, { "text": "defendant.8 In so doing, the court reasoned: “[Although]", "paragraph_id": "para_391" }, { "text": "there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to lead the", "paragraph_id": "para_392" }, { "text": "court to conclude that, while the [defendant’s] lien was", "paragraph_id": "para_393" }, { "text": "properly noticed pursuant to statute, the amount claimed", "paragraph_id": "para_394" }, { "text": "for storage charges was not supported by any agreement", "paragraph_id": "para_395" }, { "text": "with [the plaintiff]. In fact, the plane was placed on the", "paragraph_id": "para_396" }, { "text": "[defendant’s] property at the direction of Master Avia-", "paragraph_id": "para_397" }, { "text": "tion without the consent or knowledge of [the plaintiff].", "paragraph_id": "para_398" }, { "text": "[The defendant] charged fees to [the plaintiff] without", "paragraph_id": "para_399" }, { "text": "having had any contact with [the plaintiff], its princi-", "paragraph_id": "para_400" }, { "text": "pal or agent, and without having entered into any oral", "paragraph_id": "para_401" }, { "text": "or written agreement to do so. It did not even know of", "paragraph_id": "para_402" }, { "text": "any contact information for [the plaintiff] until it later", "paragraph_id": "para_403" }, { "text": "obtained the information from Master Aviation. . . . The", "paragraph_id": "para_404" }, { "text": "court also notes its collection of $7405 from the sale of", "paragraph_id": "para_405" }, { "text": "the plane was substantially more than the $5970 set forth", "paragraph_id": "para_406" }, { "text": "in its lien. See footnote [6 of this opinion].", "paragraph_id": "para_407" }, { "text": "“The court finds that [the defendant] was involved in", "paragraph_id": "para_408" }, { "text": "the trade or commerce of running an airport and that its", "paragraph_id": "para_409" }, { "text": "unauthorized actions with respect to the storage of the", "paragraph_id": "para_410" }, { "text": "plane at the airport and the collection of $1435 in excess", "paragraph_id": "para_411" }, { "text": "of its lien constitute an unfair trade practice [that] caused", "paragraph_id": "para_412" }, { "text": "substantial injury to [the plaintiff].9 Collectively, these", "paragraph_id": "para_413" }, { "text": "7 The plaintiff also alleged conversion as to the defendant and SSSu-", "paragraph_id": "para_414" }, { "text": "perstar and CUTPA violations by Master Aviation and SSSuperstar.", "paragraph_id": "para_415" }, { "text": "8 The court found in favor of the defendant and SSSuperstar on the", "paragraph_id": "para_416" }, { "text": "plaintiff’s conversion claims. The court found in favor of SSSuperstar", "paragraph_id": "para_417" }, { "text": "on the plaintiff’s CUTPA claim, but in favor of the plaintiff on its", "paragraph_id": "para_418" }, { "text": "CUTPA claim against Master Aviation. Those rulings have not been", "paragraph_id": "para_419" }, { "text": "challenged on appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_420" }, { "text": "9 The court also concluded: “There was also a lack of any evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_421" }, { "text": "whatsoever that [the defendant] had complied with § 49-92h (c) rela-", "paragraph_id": "para_422" }, { "text": "tive to payment to the owner of record the balance of any sale proceeds", "paragraph_id": "para_423" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCactions and inaction constitute a basis for the finding", "paragraph_id": "para_424" }, { "text": "of a CUTPA violation by [the defendant].” (Footnote", "paragraph_id": "para_425" }, { "text": "added.) The court also found that “several of the actions", "paragraph_id": "para_426" }, { "text": "of Master Aviation in its effort to be paid leading to the", "paragraph_id": "para_427" }, { "text": "auction constituted an unfair trade practice that would", "paragraph_id": "para_428" }, { "text": "be considered unfair or unscrupulous conduct [that]", "paragraph_id": "para_429" }, { "text": "caused substantial injury to [the plaintiff].”", "paragraph_id": "para_430" }, { "text": "As to damages, the court explained: “There was suf-", "paragraph_id": "para_431" }, { "text": "ficient evidence to establish that the liens totaling", "paragraph_id": "para_432" }, { "text": "$18,281.81 were paid off by virtue of the sale of the plane,", "paragraph_id": "para_433" }, { "text": "plus an additional $1435 to [the defendant]. However,", "paragraph_id": "para_434" }, { "text": "there was no evidence of what the actual amount of the", "paragraph_id": "para_435" }, { "text": "successful bid was. The most competent evidence of the", "paragraph_id": "para_436" }, { "text": "value of the plane at the time of the auction was the evi-", "paragraph_id": "para_437" }, { "text": "dence that it was sold shortly thereafter by SSSuperstar", "paragraph_id": "para_438" }, { "text": "for $142,500. Because the actions of Master Aviation", "paragraph_id": "para_439" }, { "text": "and [the defendant] [that] led up to the auction have", "paragraph_id": "para_440" }, { "text": "been found to constitute CUTPA violations, the court", "paragraph_id": "para_441" }, { "text": "finds . . . the value of the plane as of the time of the auc-", "paragraph_id": "para_442" }, { "text": "tion less the payment of the liens to be the measure of", "paragraph_id": "para_443" }, { "text": "damages. Accordingly, the court awards the plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_444" }, { "text": "$124,218.19.” The court further awarded the plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_445" }, { "text": "“a de minimis amount of $500 in attorney’s fees and $500", "paragraph_id": "para_446" }, { "text": "in punitive damages.”10 On the basis of the foregoing,", "paragraph_id": "para_447" }, { "text": "after the satisfaction of any security interests. Even if there were no", "paragraph_id": "para_448" }, { "text": "proceeds left following payment of the security interests, it does not", "paragraph_id": "para_449" }, { "text": "excuse the failure of the [defendant] to notify [the plaintiff] as to what", "paragraph_id": "para_450" }, { "text": "the balance of the proceeds [was] following the sale. At the very least", "paragraph_id": "para_451" }, { "text": "it could have done so by email as it had Morgandinho’s email address", "paragraph_id": "para_452" }, { "text": "for approximately two years prior to the auction.” The court did not", "paragraph_id": "para_453" }, { "text": "expressly base its finding of a CUTPA violation on these deficiencies", "paragraph_id": "para_454" }, { "text": "of the defendant but, rather, focused on the conduct of the defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_455" }, { "text": "that led to the auction of the plaintiff’s plane.", "paragraph_id": "para_456" }, { "text": "10 In so doing, the court reasoned: “The court has previously noted", "paragraph_id": "para_457" }, { "text": "that it was a collective group of missteps by the parties that led them", "paragraph_id": "para_458" }, { "text": "to the courthouse. For example, regarding the billing notices and cor-", "paragraph_id": "para_459" }, { "text": "respondence of the defendants to the plaintiff, including the notice", "paragraph_id": "para_460" }, { "text": "of any liens, Morgandinho lived at three different residences between", "paragraph_id": "para_461" }, { "text": "August, 2019, and February, 2020. Yet there is no evidence that he", "paragraph_id": "para_462" }, { "text": "ever put in a change of address with the United States Postal Service", "paragraph_id": "para_463" }, { "text": "or made an attempt to notify the defendants of his current address to", "paragraph_id": "para_464" }, { "text": "ensure that he received any correspondence from them. There was also", "paragraph_id": "para_465" }, { "text": "no effort to update the address on the FAA registration of the plane.", "paragraph_id": "para_466" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe court ordered: “The judgments as to [the plaintiff’s", "paragraph_id": "para_467" }, { "text": "CUTPA claims] shall enter jointly and severally as to", "paragraph_id": "para_468" }, { "text": ". . . Master Aviation and [the defendant] in the amount", "paragraph_id": "para_469" }, { "text": "of $124,218.19 in damages plus $500 in attorney’s fees", "paragraph_id": "para_470" }, { "text": "and $500 in punitive damages for a total judgment of", "paragraph_id": "para_471" }, { "text": "$125,218.19.” This appeal followed.", "paragraph_id": "para_472" }, { "text": "On appeal, the defendant claims that the court erred", "paragraph_id": "para_473" }, { "text": "in concluding that it violated CUTPA by charging the", "paragraph_id": "para_474" }, { "text": "plaintiff storage fees because those fees were authorized", "paragraph_id": "para_475" }, { "text": "under § 49-92g in that it stored the plane at the request", "paragraph_id": "para_476" }, { "text": "of Master Aviation, which was the legal possessor of the", "paragraph_id": "para_477" }, { "text": "plane at that time. We agree.", "paragraph_id": "para_478" }, { "text": "“[General Statutes §] 42-110b (a) provides that [n]o", "paragraph_id": "para_479" }, { "text": "person shall engage in unfair methods of competition and", "paragraph_id": "para_480" }, { "text": "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any", "paragraph_id": "para_481" }, { "text": "trade or commerce. It is well settled that in determining", "paragraph_id": "para_482" }, { "text": "whether a practice violates CUTPA we have adopted", "paragraph_id": "para_483" }, { "text": "the criteria set out in the cigarette rule by the [F]ederal", "paragraph_id": "para_484" }, { "text": "[T]rade [C]ommission for determining when a practice is", "paragraph_id": "para_485" }, { "text": "unfair: (1) [W]hether the practice, without necessarily", "paragraph_id": "para_486" }, { "text": "having been previously considered unlawful, offends", "paragraph_id": "para_487" }, { "text": "public policy as it has been established by statutes, the", "paragraph_id": "para_488" }, { "text": "common law, or otherwise—in other words, it is within", "paragraph_id": "para_489" }, { "text": "at least the penumbra of some [common-law], statutory,", "paragraph_id": "para_490" }, { "text": "or other established concept of unfairness; (2) whether", "paragraph_id": "para_491" }, { "text": "it is immoral, unethical, oppressive, or unscrupulous;", "paragraph_id": "para_492" }, { "text": "(3) whether it causes substantial injury to consumers,", "paragraph_id": "para_493" }, { "text": "[competitors or other businesspersons]. . . . All three", "paragraph_id": "para_494" }, { "text": "criteria do not need to be satisfied to support a finding", "paragraph_id": "para_495" }, { "text": "of unfairness. A practice may be unfair because of the", "paragraph_id": "para_496" }, { "text": "degree to which it meets one of the criteria or because", "paragraph_id": "para_497" }, { "text": "Further, there were significant periods of time when Morgandinho was", "paragraph_id": "para_498" }, { "text": "out of contact with Master Aviation, leaving it without direction as to", "paragraph_id": "para_499" }, { "text": "his intentions with respect to the plane. On at least two occasions, he had", "paragraph_id": "para_500" }, { "text": "phone conversations with either Speakmaster or the Silvestros in which", "paragraph_id": "para_501" }, { "text": "he yelled and used profane language about the defendants’ demands for", "paragraph_id": "para_502" }, { "text": "payment. That conduct only hardened the positions of the defendants", "paragraph_id": "para_503" }, { "text": "and made a resolution less likely. In short, his attitude and inattention", "paragraph_id": "para_504" }, { "text": "to the matter at hand played a role in the eventual auctioning of the", "paragraph_id": "para_505" }, { "text": "plane. Lastly, the conduct of the trial took only approximately [one and", "paragraph_id": "para_506" }, { "text": "one-half days] with few witnesses.”", "paragraph_id": "para_507" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCto a lesser extent it meets all three. . . . Thus a viola-", "paragraph_id": "para_508" }, { "text": "tion of CUTPA may be established by showing either an", "paragraph_id": "para_509" }, { "text": "actual deceptive practice . . . or a practice amounting to", "paragraph_id": "para_510" }, { "text": "a violation of public policy.” (Internal quotation marks", "paragraph_id": "para_511" }, { "text": "omitted.) Herron v. Daniels, 208 Conn. App. 75, 94–95,", "paragraph_id": "para_512" }, { "text": "264 A.3d 184 (2021).11", "paragraph_id": "para_513" }, { "text": "“It is well settled that whether a defendant’s acts con-", "paragraph_id": "para_514" }, { "text": "stitute . . . deceptive or unfair trade practices under", "paragraph_id": "para_515" }, { "text": "CUTPA, is a question of fact for the trier, to which, on", "paragraph_id": "para_516" }, { "text": "appellate review, we accord our customary deference.”", "paragraph_id": "para_517" }, { "text": "(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., 96. Here, how-", "paragraph_id": "para_518" }, { "text": "ever, our review of the court’s determination that the", "paragraph_id": "para_519" }, { "text": "defendant violated CUTPA by charging the plaintiff stor-", "paragraph_id": "para_520" }, { "text": "age fees in the absence of a request from, or the consent", "paragraph_id": "para_521" }, { "text": "of, the plaintiff “requires us to construe the language", "paragraph_id": "para_522" }, { "text": "of [§ 49-92g]. Consequently . . . our review is plenary. . .", "paragraph_id": "para_523" }, { "text": ". [W]hen construing the language of a statute, General", "paragraph_id": "para_524" }, { "text": "Statutes § 1-2z directs us first to consider the text of the", "paragraph_id": "para_525" }, { "text": "statute itself and its relationship to other statutes. If,", "paragraph_id": "para_526" }, { "text": "11 We also are mindful that, in evaluating whether the defendant’s", "paragraph_id": "para_527" }, { "text": "conduct caused substantial injury to the plaintiff, our Supreme Court", "paragraph_id": "para_528" }, { "text": "has explained that “not . . . every consumer injury is legally unfair . .", "paragraph_id": "para_529" }, { "text": ". . To justify a finding of unfairness the injury must satisfy three tests.", "paragraph_id": "para_530" }, { "text": "It must be substantial; it must not be outweighed by any countervailing", "paragraph_id": "para_531" }, { "text": "benefits to consumers or competition that the practice produces; and it", "paragraph_id": "para_532" }, { "text": "must be an injury that consumers themselves could not reasonably have", "paragraph_id": "para_533" }, { "text": "avoided.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Cenatiempo v. Bank of", "paragraph_id": "para_534" }, { "text": "America, N.A., 333 Conn. 769, 802, 219 A.3d 767 (2019). Not only did", "paragraph_id": "para_535" }, { "text": "the plaintiff never attempt to retrieve its plane from the defendant, it", "paragraph_id": "para_536" }, { "text": "also made no attempt to dissolve the defendant’s lien on the plane. See", "paragraph_id": "para_537" }, { "text": "General Statutes § 49-92h (b) (“[t]he owner of the aircraft, or anyone", "paragraph_id": "para_538" }, { "text": "having a legal or equitable interest therein, may apply to any judge of", "paragraph_id": "para_539" }, { "text": "the Superior Court, within whose jurisdiction the aircraft is held or", "paragraph_id": "para_540" }, { "text": "where the lienor resides, to dissolve the lien upon the substitution of a", "paragraph_id": "para_541" }, { "text": "bond with sufficient surety”). To that extent, the injury claimed by the", "paragraph_id": "para_542" }, { "text": "plaintiff in this case—the alleged unauthorized sale of its plane—was", "paragraph_id": "para_543" }, { "text": "not an injury that the plaintiff could not reasonably have avoided.", "paragraph_id": "para_544" }, { "text": "We also agree with the defendant’s argument that, to the extent the", "paragraph_id": "para_545" }, { "text": "court’s finding of a CUTPA violation was based, in part, on the defen-", "paragraph_id": "para_546" }, { "text": "dant’s collection of $1400 more than the amount of its lien, that sum,", "paragraph_id": "para_547" }, { "text": "relative to the plaintiff’s claimed injury—the value of the plane—did", "paragraph_id": "para_548" }, { "text": "not constitute a substantial injury to the plaintiff. See Web Press", "paragraph_id": "para_549" }, { "text": "Services Corp. v. New London Motors, Inc., 205 Conn. 479, 484, 533", "paragraph_id": "para_550" }, { "text": "A.2d 1211 (1987).", "paragraph_id": "para_551" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCafter examining such text and considering such relation-", "paragraph_id": "para_552" }, { "text": "ship, the meaning of such text is plain and unambiguous", "paragraph_id": "para_553" }, { "text": "and does not yield absurd or unworkable results, extra-", "paragraph_id": "para_554" }, { "text": "textual evidence of the meaning of the statute shall not", "paragraph_id": "para_555" }, { "text": "be considered.” (Citation omitted; internal quotation", "paragraph_id": "para_556" }, { "text": "marks omitted.) Id., 90–91.", "paragraph_id": "para_557" }, { "text": "Section 49-92g, which establishes the statutory frame-", "paragraph_id": "para_558" }, { "text": "work for aircraft liens, provides in relevant part: “Any", "paragraph_id": "para_559" }, { "text": "person who stores . . . at the request of or with the consent", "paragraph_id": "para_560" }, { "text": "of the owner, his agent or legal possessor of an aircraft", "paragraph_id": "para_561" }, { "text": ". . . has a lien upon the aircraft until the sum due for any", "paragraph_id": "para_562" }, { "text": "fees, expenses or charges for such storage . . . has been", "paragraph_id": "para_563" }, { "text": "paid. . . .” (Emphasis added.) The term “legal possessor”", "paragraph_id": "para_564" }, { "text": "is not defined in § 49-92g or in any other statute. It is well", "paragraph_id": "para_565" }, { "text": "settled that, “[i]n the absence of a definition of terms in", "paragraph_id": "para_566" }, { "text": "the statute itself, [w]e may presume . . . that the legis-", "paragraph_id": "para_567" }, { "text": "lature intended [a word] to have its ordinary meaning", "paragraph_id": "para_568" }, { "text": "in the English language, as gleaned from the context of", "paragraph_id": "para_569" }, { "text": "its use. . . . Under such circumstances, it is appropriate", "paragraph_id": "para_570" }, { "text": "to look to the common understanding of the term as", "paragraph_id": "para_571" }, { "text": "expressed in a dictionary.” (Internal quotation marks", "paragraph_id": "para_572" }, { "text": "omitted.) Middlebury v. Connecticut Siting Council,", "paragraph_id": "para_573" }, { "text": "326 Conn. 40, 49, 161 A.3d 537 (2017).", "paragraph_id": "para_574" }, { "text": "Black’s Law Dictionary defines legal possessor as “[o]ne", "paragraph_id": "para_575" }, { "text": "with the legal right to possess property . . . as contrasted", "paragraph_id": "para_576" }, { "text": "with the legal owner who holds legal title.” Black’s Law", "paragraph_id": "para_577" }, { "text": "Dictionary (9th Ed. 2009) p. 1283. To possess means “[t]o", "paragraph_id": "para_578" }, { "text": "have in one’s actual control . . . .” Id., p. 1281. In light of", "paragraph_id": "para_579" }, { "text": "these definitions, we conclude that the statute is plain", "paragraph_id": "para_580" }, { "text": "and unambiguous with respect to who constitutes a legal", "paragraph_id": "para_581" }, { "text": "possessor. That is, we do not see more than one likely or", "paragraph_id": "para_582" }, { "text": "plausible meaning of the term “legal possessor.” Under", "paragraph_id": "para_583" }, { "text": "these definitions, it is clear that the legal possessor is one", "paragraph_id": "para_584" }, { "text": "who is legally in control of an aircraft, versus the owner", "paragraph_id": "para_585" }, { "text": "who holds title to it.", "paragraph_id": "para_586" }, { "text": "Here, it was not, nor could it reasonably have been,", "paragraph_id": "para_587" }, { "text": "argued that the plaintiff’s plane was not in the control of", "paragraph_id": "para_588" }, { "text": "Master Aviation when Morgandinho placed the aircraft", "paragraph_id": "para_589" }, { "text": "in the possession of Master Aviation and it performed", "paragraph_id": "para_590" }, { "text": "SNM II Corp. v. Tango Yankee, LLCthe repairs requested by the plaintiff and later moved", "paragraph_id": "para_591" }, { "text": "the plane to the defendant’s property for storage after", "paragraph_id": "para_592" }, { "text": "completing those repairs. Thus, because Master Aviation", "paragraph_id": "para_593" }, { "text": "was the legal possessor of the plaintiff’s plane when it", "paragraph_id": "para_594" }, { "text": "requested that the defendant store the plane, the plain", "paragraph_id": "para_595" }, { "text": "language of § 49-92g authorized the defendant to charge", "paragraph_id": "para_596" }, { "text": "the plaintiff for storing the plane and to file a lien on the", "paragraph_id": "para_597" }, { "text": "plane when the storage charges were not paid. Accord-", "paragraph_id": "para_598" }, { "text": "ingly, the court’s determination that the defendant vio-", "paragraph_id": "para_599" }, { "text": "lated CUTPA by charging the plaintiff storage fees for", "paragraph_id": "para_600" }, { "text": "the plane without the request or consent of the plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_601" }, { "text": "was unfounded.12", "paragraph_id": "para_602" }, { "text": "The judgment is reversed as to the plaintiff’s CUTPA", "paragraph_id": "para_603" }, { "text": "claim against the defendant Tango Yankee, LLC, and the", "paragraph_id": "para_604" }, { "text": "case is remanded with direction to render judgment for", "paragraph_id": "para_605" }, { "text": "the defendant Tango Yankee, LLC, on that claim; the", "paragraph_id": "para_606" }, { "text": "judgment is affirmed in all other respects.", "paragraph_id": "para_607" }, { "text": "In this opinion the other judges concurred.", "paragraph_id": "para_608" }, { "text": "12 In light of this conclusion, we need not address the defendant’s", "paragraph_id": "para_609" }, { "text": "additional argument that the storage charges did not proximately cause", "paragraph_id": "para_610" }, { "text": "the plaintiff’s loss of equity in its plane.", "paragraph_id": "para_611" } ], "word_count": 5982, "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "sha256": "aba5a7e5706b42ab76b9a89d409627f2a9ba49174431cd75dc2980ec03b58d8f", "source_url": "http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROap/AP238/AP238.149.pdf", "fetched_at": "2026-10-09T09:32:35.994+00:00", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes", "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "verification": { "stored_sha256": "aba5a7e5706b42ab76b9a89d409627f2a9ba49174431cd75dc2980ec03b58d8f", "recomputed_sha256": "aba5a7e5706b42ab76b9a89d409627f2a9ba49174431cd75dc2980ec03b58d8f", "intact": true, "checked_at": "2026-10-11T20:32:11.061Z" } }, "hash": "sha256:9815c7dda75242a606293af2486e593629d924183dda30b076317b02842f5522", "version": "legal-2026-10-11", "expires": "2026-10-12T00:00:00.000Z", "dependency": { "index_version": "legal-2026-10-11+legal-2026-10-11+2026-10-11T20:18:01", "content_hash": "sha256:9815c7dda75242a606293af2486e593629d924183dda30b076317b02842f5522", "revalidate_after": "2026-10-11T21:32:11.396Z", "max_copy_age_seconds": 3600, "policy": "revalidate-required; attribution-preferred", "changelog": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency", "verify": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify", "stale_copy_invalid": true }, "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17", "follow": [ { "rel": "risk", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17" }, { "rel": "relations", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17" }, { "rel": "agent", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:connappct-ac48214-2026-03-17" }, { "rel": "obligations", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain" }, { "rel": "changes", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us" } ], "disclaimer": "Source reference with official identifier. 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