Sec. 52-80. Nonsuits and withdrawals; costs.
Sec. 52-80. Nonsuits and withdrawals; costs. If the plaintiff, in any action returned to court and entered in the docket, does not, on or before the opening of the court
on the second day thereof, appear by himself or attorney to prosecute such action, he
shall be nonsuited, in which case the defendant, if he appears, shall recover costs from
the plaintiff. The plaintiff may withdraw any action so returned to and entered in the
docket of any court, before the commencement of a hearing on the merits thereof. After
the commencement of a hearing on an issue of fact in any such action, the plaintiff may
withdraw such action, or any other party thereto may withdraw any cross complaint or
counterclaim filed therein by him, only by leave of court for cause shown.
(1949 Rev., S. 7801.)
After a nonsuit, the cause cannot be reinstated without notice to, or consent of, both parties. K. 361. Entry for costs to
be made during the term. Id., 269; 35 C. 4. Proof of withdrawal. 14 C. 174. Petition cannot be withdrawn after judgment
pronounced; K. 273; but may be after report of committee is known, though not filed. 25 C. 136. Right to withdraw suit
or to be nonsuited, not affected by plea of set-off and claim of judgment thereon. 43 C. 61. After case has been heard and
reported by committee, it cannot be withdrawn. 47 C. 436. Judgment treated as rendered at the time of withdrawal and not
when costs are taxed. 48 C. 301. Withdrawal of justice suit after return of writ cannot deprive defendant of his right to a
judgment for costs. 57 C. 270. Nonsuit proper for failure of plaintiff to plead over; 72 C. 257; or to produce evidence;
discretion of court; 75 C. 314; or to prosecute action. 71 C. 339. Withdrawal after filing of counterclaim or set-off. 76 C.
530; 80 C. 218. Plaintiff may withdraw actions without knowledge of attorney; and in vacation. 78 C. 659. Withdrawal
after answer filed as creating estoppel. 80 C. 504. Of right of withdrawal in general. 85 C. 673. Cited. 123 C. 18. Case
withdrawn may be restored to docket by court on proper showing during term at which withdrawal filed. Id., 166. After
commencement of hearing it is within discretion of court to deny motion to withdraw cross complaint. 125 C. 472. Cited.
142 C. 713. Cited. 152 C. 699. Cited. 154 C. 289. Petition for winding up is "action" to which this section applies. 171
C. 699, 701. Right of plaintiff to withdraw action terminates not with completion by appraiser of his report, but with
commencement of procedures to be followed in arriving at appraisal. Id., 699, 703. Since appraiser never appraised value
of plaintiff's shares in corporation or value of real estate as of appropriate date, and in absence of any specific order
specifying power and authority of appraiser pursuant to Sec. 33-384, determination of value of corporation's real estate
did not amount to "hearing of an issue of fact" as would terminate plaintiff's right to withdraw their action. Id., 700, 704.
Cited. 194 C. 400.
Cited. 5 CA 101. Cited. 13 CA 150. Cited. 24 CA 93. Cited. 26 CA 426. Cited. 37 CA 515. Cited. 44 CA 771. Trial
court improperly restored case to docket; trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because no appraiser had been
appointed to assess the value of the corporation, and thus no fact-finding had occurred. 54 CA 384.
Cited. 4 CS 165. Cited. 6 CS 195. Withdrawal of divorce action with respect to alimony and support payments discussed.
16 CS 88. This section applicable to condemnation proceedings. Id., 230. Plaintiff failed to make a timely claim for a jury
trial so case withdrawn and a new suit immediately commenced for same cause of action; on motion of the defendant the
original case was restored to the docket. 21 CS 371. Court has continuing jurisdiction to determine any claim of a vested
right acquired during the pendency of an action and prior to its withdrawal, but it must first reinstate it on the docket before
granting the relief sought. Id., 497.
Plaintiff's move to withdraw action denied where memorandum of decision had previously granted defendant judgment
on his demurrer. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 439. Where case has been voluntarily withdrawn court does not have jurisdiction to
entertain motion to reopen until steps are taken to restore case to docket. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 91, 92. Trial court alone has
power to open, set aside, vacate or modify judgment, and exercise of that power is unaffected by taking of appeal. If case
has gone to judgment, motion to withdraw cannot be entertained until after judgment is opened and vacated. Id., 168, 169.