Rivers v. City of New Britain

Opinion

PALMER, J.

Municipalities ordinarily have a duty of

care with respect to the maintenance of public sidewalks, and, under General Statutes § lSa-149,1 they are *3liable for damages caused by a breach of that duty. Pursuant to General Statutes § 7-163a,2 however, a municipality may adopt an ordinance that shifts to the owner of the land abutting a public sidewalk both the duty of care and liability with respect to the presence of snow and ice on the sidewalk.3 This certified appeal requires us to determine whether an ordinance that a municipality adopts in accordance with § 7-163a relieves…