If it appears that the defense applies to only part of the claim, or that any part is admitted, the moving party may have final judgment forthwith for so much of the claim as the defense does not apply to, or as is admitted, on such terms as may be just; and the action may be severed and proceeded with as respects the remainder of the claim.
Section 17-51.—Judgment for Part of Claim
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA party can win final judgment right away on the part of a claim that isn’t disputed or admitted, while the rest of the case continues on its own track.
Full Text of Section 17-51
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 386.)
Plain-English Summary
This rule applies when a defense reaches only part of a claim, or when the defendant admits part of it. Rather than making the moving party wait for the whole case to resolve, the court can enter final judgment forthwith on the undisputed or admitted portion, on terms the court finds just.
The remainder of the claim doesn’t go away. The action is severed, and the disputed part proceeds separately, allowing the litigated portion to move forward on its own timeline while the resolved portion is already final.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a defense to apply to only part of a claim?
It means the defendant’s challenge doesn’t contest the entire claim — some portion is either undisputed or admitted, leaving only the rest at issue.
Can a party get judgment before the whole case is resolved?
Yes. Under this rule, the moving party can obtain final judgment forthwith on the part of the claim not subject to the defense or that has been admitted, even while the remainder is still being litigated.
What happens to the rest of the claim after a partial judgment?
The action is severed, and the remaining, disputed part of the claim continues to be litigated separately.
Are there conditions attached to a partial judgment?
The court enters the partial judgment on such terms as it finds just, giving it discretion over how the partial judgment is structured.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-51). 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: partial judgment Connecticutjudgment on undisputed part of claimsevering a claim CTjudgment forthwith Connecticut practice bookpartial summary judgment CT rule 17-51