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Smalls v. State

Supreme Court of Connecticut
Nov 23, 1976
372 A.2d 138 (Conn. 1976)

Opinion

Argued October 14, 1976

Decision released November 23, 1976

Petition for a new trial, brought to the Superior Court in Fairfield County and tried to the court, Saden, J.; judgment denying the petition and appeal by the plaintiff. No error.

Alan Neigher, special public defender, for the appellant (plaintiff).

Walter D. Flanagan, assistant state's attorney, with whom, on the brief, was Donald A. Browne, state's attorney, for the appellee (state).


On May 6, 1971, James Smalls was convicted in the Superior Court in Fairfield County of a violation of the state dependency producing drug law, General Statutes 19-480. This appeal is from the denial of a petition for a new trial. The law in this state relative to new trials has been well established and recently summarized in Reilly v. State, 32 Conn. Sup. 349, 355 A.2d 324. In Taborsky v. State, 142 Conn. 619, 623, 116 A.2d 433, we stated: "[T]he primary test is whether an injustice was done and whether it is probable that on a new trial a different result would be reached. Smith v. State, 141 Conn. 202, 208, 104 A.2d 761; Dortch v. State, 142 Conn. 18, 21, 110 A.2d 471. The burden of proving the probability of a different result is upon the plaintiff, and in determining that issue the trial court exercises a discretion which cannot be reviewed unless its discretionary power has been abused. State v. Goldberger, 118 Conn. 444, 457, 173 A. 216."

On the record in this case, there is no evidence of an abuse of discretion by the trial court.


Summaries of

Smalls v. State

Supreme Court of Connecticut
Nov 23, 1976
372 A.2d 138 (Conn. 1976)
Case details for

Smalls v. State

Case Details

Full title:JAMES SMALLS v. STATE OF CONNECTICUT

Court:Supreme Court of Connecticut

Date published: Nov 23, 1976

Citations

372 A.2d 138 (Conn. 1976)
372 A.2d 138

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