Connecticut Television, Inc. v. Laughing ( 1967 )

The motion to dismiss is an anomaly in our trial practice. Although in the past this motion has been treated as a motion to erase; Ragali v. Holmes, 111 Conn. 663, 664 (1930); whose office was not to allege new matter but to take advantage of objections already apparent on the face of the record; Bethel Redding Lime Co. v.New York, N.H. H.R. Co., 82 Conn. 135, 142 (1909); since the adoption of the 1963 Practice Book there is no justification for its continued use. The Practice Book recognizes only two methods of making a plea to the jurisdiction, namely, a plea in abatement; Practice Book § 93; and a motion to erase. Practice Book § 94. Despite the fact that the motion to dismiss at the trial level is possessed of neither statutory nor case law authority; Stephenson, Conn. Civ. Proc. § 77c; and that our Supreme Court has admonished that innovations should not be put into practice ex parte by counsel;Vigue v. John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co.,147 Conn. 305, 306 (1960); this motion, usually embroidered with its federal practice piping, continues to press for recognition in our courtrooms. Until such time as the rules are changed so as to permit its use, the court would be foolhardy to give it even colorable recognition.

Accordingly, the motions of Teleprompter Corporation of New York and Greater Hartford CATV, Inc., to dismiss are expunged as improperly filed.