Coppola v. Farina

How are cash gifts received from the “bride’s side” treated in a contested dissolution trial?

Despite the fact that there are thousands of dissolution opinions issued by Connecticut judges, this question has not been decided by any Connecticut trial court or appellate court. It is an issue of first impression.

After hearing all the evidence, claims of law and claims of fact, the court finds the following facts and legal conclusions.

The plaintiff, Guiseppina Coppola, and the defendant, Gino Farina, were married on May 19, 2002. This is their first marriage. They are in their thirties. Both were…