We granted the defendants’ petitions for certification to appeal to consider whether the Appellate Court properly dismissed their respective appeals from the trial court's denial of their special motions to dismiss pursuant to § 52-196a for lack of a final judgment. See Pryor v. Brignole , 336 Conn. 941, 249 A.3d 353 (2021) ; Pryor v. Brignole , 336 Conn. 933, 248 A.3d 3 (2021). This court subsequently consolidated the defendants’ certified appeals and ordered joint briefing.