HSSK Wins Partnership Dispute, Defending Clients Against False Claims in Five-Day Bench Trial
03/17/2025Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff attorneys David Slossberg and Erica Nolan won a five-day bench trial in a long-running partnership dispute in Waterbury Superior Court. The case involved a former partner of Blasius South Partnership, a car dealership in Stratford, CT, who claimed entitlement to profits despite not working in the business for several years.
HSSK was retained in 2020 to advise the dealership owners after the plaintiff, who had left the business years earlier, argued he was still entitled to a share of the profits due to a lack of written documentation of his withdrawal from the partnership. The case raised issues about the applicability of the Connecticut Uniform Partnership Act and whether form would take precedence over function – namely that the former partner had resigned from the partnership, received his capital contribution back, and ceased performing any work on behalf of the partnership.
The plaintiff initially demanded over $1.5 million, but the clients were determined to defend the case, believing their case was strong. On March 13, 2025, the court returned its decision in favor of the dealership owners, ruling that the plaintiff’s departure was clear and his claims were without merit. This was a complete victory for the client, with no monies being awarded to plaintiff.