Fitzpatrick's Inc. v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

Shapiro, J.

Following a hearing, the defendant commissioner of motor vehicles concluded that the plaintiff had violated § 14-64 of the General Statutes in that it made false statements to a customer by representing a vehicle as an “executive demonstrator” when in fact it was a used car, and that the plaintiff had also violated § 14-62 (7) as that statute relates to the issuance of an order and invoice on the sale of a motor vehicle. As a result, the plaintiff’s new car dealer’s license was ordered suspended for a period of two days for the claimed violation of § 14-62 (7) and for a period of five days for the claimed violation of § 14-64, both suspensions “to be served concurrently.” As prescribed by § 14-64, the plaintiff was required to post a bond of $1000 prior to reinstatement of its license. The plaintiff appealed to the Court of Common Pleas from the commissioner’s decision. That court dismissed the plaintiff’s appeal relative to the violation of § 14-62 (7) and sustained it relative to the claimed violation of § 14-64.1 The commissioner appealed to this court from the judgment rendered. Unless the decision by the commissioner is unwarranted in law or is in abuse of his discretion, his action should not be overruled by the court. Demma v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, 165 Conn. 15, 16, 327 A.2d 569; Dempsey v. Tynan, 143 Conn. 202, 206, 120 A.2d 700.

There was evidence before the commissioner from which he could find the following facts pertinent to this appeal: On January 7,1971, William Pidlipehak purchased a 1970 Plymouth Fury III from the plaintiff. The vehicle was previously owned by Avis Rent A Car System, Inc., hereinafter Avis. The purchase order between Pidlipehak and the plaintiff described the vehicle as an “Exc Demo.” The vehicle was represented to the buyer as an “executive demonstrator” and not as a leasing company vehicle. From these facts the commissioner concluded that the plaintiff violated the provisions of § 14-64 “in that it made a false statement to Mr. Pidlipehak when it represented the 1970 Plymouth Fury III as an ‘executive demonstrator’ when in fact the vehicle was a used motor vehicle previously registered and owned by Avis Rent A Car.” The appeal was sustained and the judgment rendered by the court recites in part “that there was no sufficient basis in the record for the Commissioner’s finding that the plaintiff violated . . . [General Statutes §] 14-64.” The defendant commissioner assigned error claiming that the court erred in sustaining the plaintiff’s appeal and in setting aside the suspension under §14-64; in concluding that Pidlipchak was aware that he was purchasing a used car; and in concluding that under § 14-64 a misrepresentation pertaining to prior ownership of a vehicle is not a false statement as to “condition” under § 14-64. The basic issue for determination by this court is whether the plaintiff made a false representation as to “condition” in asserting that the vehicle was an “executive demonstrator,” when, in fact, it was a used car previously owned by Avis.

Whether Pidlipchak was aware that he was purchasing a used car from the plaintiff has a bearing in this appeal only if the trial court is found to have committed error in concluding that there was no sufficient basis in the record for the commissioner’s finding that the plaintiff violated § 14-64. The basic argument advanced by the commissioner is that the trial court restricted the operation of § 14-64 by interpreting the word “condition” to apply to the actual mechanical status of the vehicle, its state of repair or performance, and related items.

Since § 14-64 is penal in nature, the principle of strict construction applies. See Dental Commission v. Tru-Fit Plastics, Inc., 159 Conn. 362, 365, 269 A.2d 265; Mack v. Saars, 150 Conn. 290, 294-95, 188 A.2d 863, and eases cited. The word “condition” as it appears in § 14-64 is to be construed according to the commonly approved usage of the language. General Statutes § 1-1; Hartford Electric Light Co. v. Water Resources Commission, 162 Conn. 89, 100, 291 A.2d 721. “[S]tated another way, statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning.” Klapproth v. Turner, 156 Conn. 276, 280, 240 A.2d 886. “Condition” means “[m]ode or state of being; state or situation; essential quality; property; attribute.” Black, Law Dictionary (4th Ed.). Thus, in a strict construction, “condition,” as used in § 14-64, cannot be construed to mean a misrepresentation pertaining to prior ownership of a vehicle.

It is significant to note that in the 1973 session of the General Assembly § 14-64 was amended by Public Act No. 73-674 which provides for suspension of a license of .a motor vehicle dealer, after notice and hearing and a determination by the commissioner of motor vehicles that the dealer, among other things, “has made a false statement as to the condition, prior ownership or prior use of any motor vehicle sold, exchanged, transferred or repaired.” While this legislation cannot benefit the defendant or affect the plaintiff in relation to the application of law to the present ease, it is indicative of an understanding by the General Assembly that § 14-64 was limited in its application.

In § 14-64 the word “condition” did not apply to a misrepresentation pertaining to prior use or prior ownership of a vehicle as claimed by the defendant. Rather, it is clear that it must be construed to mean the actual mechanical status of the vehicle, its state of repair or performance, as correctly found by the trial court. Accordingly, the decision reached by the commissioner that § 14-64 was violated is unwarranted in law and the trial court was correct in so finding.

There is no error.

In this opinion House, C. J., Loiselee and Bogdanski, Js., concurred.

1 General Statutes §14-64 provides in part: “The commissioner shall suspend or revoke the license or licenses of any licensee when, after notice and hearing, it is determined that such licensee has violated any provision of this subdivision (D) [of chapter 246] or any other statute of this state pertaining to his business as a licensee. Any person who violates any provision of said sections or makes any false statement as to the condition of any motor vehicle sold, exchanged, transferred or repaired shall, in addition to suspension or revocation of license, be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars.”