Any allegation or denial made without reasonable cause and found untrue shall subject the party pleading the same to the payment of such reasonable expenses, to be taxed by the judicial authority, as may have been necessarily incurred by the other party by reason of such untrue pleading; provided that no expenses for counsel fees shall be taxed exceeding $500 for any one offense. Such expenses shall be taxed against the offending party whether that party prevails in the action or not. (See General Statutes § 52-99 and annotations.)
Section 10-5.Untrue Allegations or Denials
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA party who makes an allegation or denial without reasonable cause, and it turns out untrue, must pay the other party's reasonable expenses caused by it, though counsel fees are capped at $500 per offense.
Full Text of Section 10-5
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 111.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 10-5 penalizes careless pleading. If a party makes an allegation or denial without reasonable cause and it turns out to be untrue, the judicial authority may tax that party with the reasonable expenses the other party necessarily incurred because of the untrue pleading. Counsel fees taxed under this rule cannot exceed $500 for any one offense.
The expenses are taxed against the offending party regardless of whether that party ultimately prevails in the action, so winning the case does not excuse an untrue allegation or denial made without reasonable cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a party makes an untrue allegation without reasonable cause in Connecticut?
Under Section 10-5, the judicial authority may order that party to pay the reasonable expenses the other party necessarily incurred because of the untrue pleading.
Is there a cap on the counsel fees a court can tax under Section 10-5?
Yes, counsel fees taxed under this rule cannot exceed $500 for any one offense.
Does winning the case excuse a party from expenses taxed under Section 10-5?
No. The rule states these expenses are taxed against the offending party whether or not that party prevails in the action.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-5). 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: sanctions for untrue pleading CTfalse allegation or denial expensescounsel fee cap $500 Connecticutpenalty for pleading without reasonable cause