Section 10-56.Subsequent Pleadings; Plaintiff’s Response to Answer

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceThe plaintiff's reply to each of the defendant's special defenses can admit some allegations and deny others, or deny the whole defense generally and put the defendant to proof of every material fact it alleges.

Full Text of Section 10-56

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The plaintiff’s reply pleading to each of the defendant’s special defenses may admit some and deny others of the allegations of that defense, or by a general denial of that defense put the defendant upon proof of all the material facts alleged therein.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 171.)

Plain-English Summary

This rule governs how a plaintiff responds to a defendant’s special defenses. For each special defense the defendant has raised, the plaintiff’s reply may admit some of the allegations and deny others.

Alternatively, the plaintiff can respond with a general denial of the entire defense, which puts the defendant to proof of all the material facts that defense alleges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a plaintiff respond to a special defense in Connecticut?

The reply can admit some allegations of the defense and deny others, or deny the defense generally.

What does a general denial of a special defense do?

It puts the defendant to proof of all the material facts alleged in that special defense.

Does the plaintiff have to respond to each special defense separately?

Yes, the rule addresses the reply to each of the defendant’s special defenses.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-56). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: plaintiff reply to special defense CTadmitting and denying special defense allegationsgeneral denial of special defensesubsequent pleadings after answer Connecticut