M.B.
v.
S.A.[*]
Argued
October 10, 2019
The
Superior Court, Judicial District of New Haven, Tindill, J.
Page 560
M. B.,
self-represented, the appellant (plaintiff).
DiPentima,
C. J., and Lavine and Bishop, Js.
OPINION
PER
CURIAM.
Page 561
[194
Conn.App. 722] The self-represented plaintiff, M. B., appeals
from the trial courts order denying his application for
relief from abuse seeking the issuance of a domestic violence
restraining order against the defendant, S. A., who he
alleges has engaged in a "continuous pattern of stalking
and harassment." Specifically, the plaintiff contends
that the court abused its discretion in (1) denying his
application for relief from abuse and (2) issuing sanctions
against him pursuant to Practice Book § 1-25 for filing a
frivolous application for relief from abuse. We affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
The
following facts, as evidenced by the record, and procedural
history are relevant to our consideration of this appeal. On
August 3, 2018, the plaintiff filed, pursuant to § 46b-15, an
application for relief from abuse seeking a temporary
restraining order against the defendant. The plaintiff
alleged in the application for relief from abuse that the
defendant engaged in a "clear and continuous pattern of
stalking and harassment" that included incidents of her
secretly photographing the plaintiff in public, and hiring a
third party to surveil the plaintiff at his apartment in
Greenwich. The court, Tindill, J., thereafter set a
hearing date for August 17, 2018. That hearing resumed on
September 10, 2018, and concluded on September 11, 2018.
At the
hearing, both the defendant and the self-represented
plaintiff appeared, testified, and submitted evidence on the
issue of the plaintiffs application for relief from abuse.
The court, Tindill, J., subsequently denied the
plaintiffs application for relief from abuse and, pursuant
to Practice Book § 1-25, issued sanctions against him for
filing a frivolous General Statutes § 46b-15 application.
[194 Conn.App. 723] [1] Accordingly, the plaintiff was ordered
to pay the defendants attorneys fees incurred in defending
against the application. This appeal followed.[2] Additional
facts and procedural history will be set forth as necessary.
Though
the plaintiff has presented ten issues on
appeal,[3] the substance of his
Page 562
claims is encapsulated within two broader claims. The
plaintiff asks this court to consider whether the trial court
abused its discretion in (1) denying his application for
relief from abuse on [194 Conn.App. 724] the basis of the
evidence presented at trial and (2) issuing sanctions in the
form of attorneys fees against him for filing a frivolous §
46b-15 application. Following our review of the ...