Sec. 52-512. Preference in receivership proceedings to claims for wages and deposits for consumer goods and services.

      Sec. 52-512. Preference in receivership proceedings to claims for wages and deposits for consumer goods and services. (a) Every debt due to any laborer or mechanic for personal wages, from any corporation or partnership for which a receiver is appointed, for any labor performed for such corporation or partnership within three months next preceding the service of the application for the appointment of a receiver, shall be paid in full by the receiver, to the amount allowed for certain wages pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of 11 USC Section 507, as amended and adjusted from time to time pursuant to 11 USC Section 104, as amended from time to time, before the general liabilities of such corporation or partnership are paid.

      (b) Every debt due to any individual from a corporation or partnership for which a receiver is appointed for a deposit made in connection with the purchase, lease or rental of goods or the purchase of services for the personal, family or household use of such individual, where such goods were not received or such services were not provided prior to the service of the application for the appointment of a receiver, shall be paid in full by the receiver, to the amount allowed for certain consumer deposits pursuant to subdivision (7) of subsection (a) of 11 USC Section 507, as amended and adjusted from time to time pursuant to 11 USC Section 104, as amended from time to time, before the general liabilities, except taxes or wages, of the corporation or partnership are paid. As used in this subsection, "deposit made in connection with the purchase, lease or rental of goods" includes, but is not limited to, deposits made by a consumer to a home heating oil or propane gas dealer pursuant to a prepaid home heating oil or propane gas contract or capped price per gallon home heating oil contract.

      (1949 Rev., S. 8248; 1957, P.A. 591, S. 3; P.A. 93-314, S. 2; June 11 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-2, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 93-314 added Subsec. (b) to give a preference to the claim of an individual for a deposit made in connection with the purchase, lease or rental of goods or the purchase of services for the personal, family or household use of such individual; June 11 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-2 deleted $600 amount for wages and inserted 11 USC 507(a)(4) and 104 references in Subsec. (a) and deleted $900 consumer deposit amount, inserted 11 USC 507(a)(7) and 104 references and added definition of "deposit made in connection with the purchase, lease or rental of goods" in Subsec. (b), effective June 17, 2008.

      See Sec. 52-400f re preference to claims for deposits for consumer goods and services in nonreceivership situations.

      Trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant defendant's motion to open judgment of dissolution. Defendant's failure to appear was due to his own negligence and not any mistake, accident or other reasonable cause. He was served with notice of the action and did nothing. The trial court did not have to decide whether the defendant had a good defense. 105 CA 648.

      Wages are given a preference over taxes. 4 CS 45. Laborer does not include bookkeeper. Id., 253.