When all the material allegations put in issue in any action, whether brought for legal or for equitable relief, are found for either the plaintiff or defendant, the finding of the issue or issues for the plaintiff or defendant, as the case may be, will be deemed equivalent to a finding that all material allegations which were put in issue are true, and will be a sufficient compliance with Section 17-5. Where only a part of the material allegations put in issue by the pleadings are found for the prevailing party the judgment must indicate the particular facts that are found.
Section 17-6.Form of Finding
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSets out how a Connecticut trial court’s finding for the plaintiff or defendant works: a finding for the prevailing party covers every material allegation unless the judgment spells out which specific facts were found.
Full Text of Section 17-6
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 328.)
Plain-English Summary
When a Connecticut trial court finds all the material allegations in a case for either the plaintiff or the defendant, that finding stands in for a finding that every material allegation put in issue is true. That single finding satisfies the recordkeeping requirement in Section 17-5 — the court does not need to spell out each fact separately.
Things work differently when the prevailing party wins on only part of the material allegations. In that situation, the judgment itself must identify the particular facts the court found. The rule ties the level of detail required in the judgment to how completely the prevailing party won.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a finding to be “equivalent” to finding all material allegations true?
It means the court does not have to list every fact it found. A general finding for the plaintiff or defendant on all the material allegations counts as finding each of those allegations true.
When must a Connecticut judgment spell out specific facts?
Only when the prevailing party won on part, not all, of the material allegations put in issue by the pleadings. In that case the judgment must indicate the particular facts found for that party.
How does Section 17-6 relate to Section 17-5?
Section 17-5 requires courts to keep a record of the facts behind their judgments and to set them out specially if a party requests it. Section 17-6 explains what satisfies that requirement in the ordinary case of a finding for one side.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-6). 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: form of finding CTfinding for plaintiff or defendant Connecticutmaterial allegations findingConnecticut judgment finding requirementsPractice Book 17-6