Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 42 — BUSINESS, SELLING, TRADING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES · Chapter 741d — Attorney's Fee Clauses
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-150aa (2026)

Attorney's fees limited in actions on consumer contracts or leases

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) The holder of any contract or lease entered into on or after October 1, 1979, the subject of which is money, property or services intended to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes and which contains a provision for payment of attorney's fees of a creditor, seller or lessor, shall not receive, claim or collect any payment for attorney's fees (1) for an attorney who is a salaried employee of such holder or (2) prior to the commencement of a lawsuit.

(b) If a lawsuit in which money damages are claimed is commenced by an attorney who is not a salaried employee of the holder of a contract or lease subject to the provisions of this section, such holder may receive or collect attorney's fees, if not otherwise prohibited by law, of not more than fifteen per cent of the amount of any judgment which is entered.

(P.A. 79-452, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-274, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 82-274 amended Subsec. (b) by specifying that the lawsuit be one in which money damages are claimed.

Cited. 186 C. 275; 232 C. 666; 240 C. 58.

Cited. 14 CA 161; 18 CA 329; 31 CA 455.

Subsec. (b):

In action to foreclose mechanic's lien, plaintiff is not entitled to duplicate attorney's fees under this section and Sec. 52-249 but rather may collect under this section for contract aspects of action and under Sec. 52-249 for equitable relief. 86 CA 767.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2024 · leading case: Rizzo Pool Co. v. Del Grosso, 689 A.2d 1097 (Conn. 1997).
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Rizzo Pool Co. v. Del Grosso, 689 A.2d 1097 (Conn. 1997). · cites it 19× “Finally, the plaintiff argued that, should the trial court nevertheless award attorney’s fees, those fees must be subject to the limitations on any such award under General Statutes § 42-150aa. 6 The trial court rejected the plaintiffs arguments *62 and, following an evidentiary…”
Stamford Hosp. v. Schwartz, 209 A.3d 1243 (Conn. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 11× “The defendants argued that the total attorney's fees that may be awarded to the plaintiff could not exceed 15 percent of the judgment pursuant to General Statutes § 42-150aa (b). 23 The court disagreed, concluding that the plaintiff's claim was not limited by statute, but was…”
Clem Martone Constr., LLC v. Depino, 77 A.3d 760 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 13× “The court concluded that General Statutes §§ 42-150aa and 42-150bb were inapplicable to this case because the construction contract between the parties did not provide for the award of attorney’s fees and there was no other written agreement between the parties that provided for…”
Russo Roofing, Inc. v. Rottman, 863 A.2d 713 (Conn. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 12× “The defendant, however, claimed that § 52-249 did not apply to the plaintiff and that an award of attorney’s fees to the plaintiff should be governed by General Statutes § 42-150aa.* *** 5 In its second memorandum of decision, the court ruled that § 42-150aa controlled the…”
Smith v. Snyder, 839 A.2d 589 (Conn. 2004). · cites it 2× “, General Statutes § 42-150aa (b); and recognize self-executing terms of contractual provisions that call for an award of a set percentage of attorney’s fees upon the occurrence of a certain event.”
William Raveis Real Est., Inc. v. Zajaczkowski, 160 A.3d 363 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “On appeal, the defendants claim that the court (1) erred in concluding that they had breached the exclusive agreement they had with the plaintiff, (2) abused its discretion by awarding the plaintiff attorney's fees and costs in the absence of an evidentiary hearing, and (3)…”
Rizzo Pool Co. v. Del Grosso, 657 A.2d 1087 (Conn. 1995). · cites it 2× “In addition, the total cash price for all work agreed upon between the contractor and the owner must exceed $200 for the agreement to constitute a “home improvement contract” under the HIA.”
In Re Rubenstein, 105 B.R. 198 (Bankr. D. Conn. 1989). · cites it 4× “State courts may also seek guidance from statutes such as Connecticut General Statutes § 42-150aa(b). 7 See Matter of Salisbury, 58 B.”
Piantedosi v. Floridia, 440 A.2d 977 (Conn. 1982). · cites it 2× “The statute reflects a legislative standard of reasonableness which the present award does not exceed.”
Cioffoletti Constr. v. Nering, 540 A.2d 91 (Conn. App. Ct. 1988). · cites it 6× “The defendant claims that the trial court erred (1) in accepting opinion evidence regarding the standards of the state building code where it should have accepted the standards in the code as a matter of law, (2) in awarding attorney’s fees to the plaintiff in excess of 15…”
Deming v. Nationwide Mut. Ins., 905 A.2d 623 (Conn. 2006). “2d 1097 (1997) (“whenever there is an attorney’s fees clause in the commercial party’s contract, that clause is subject to [General Statutes] § 42-150aa, and the contract must be read as incorporating that provision’s 15 percent limitation”); Sanghavi v.”
Emlee Equip. Leasing Corp. v. Waterbury Transmission, Inc., 626 A.2d 307 (Conn. App. Ct. 1993). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 42-150aa limiting attorney’s fees in consumer contracts and leases.”
Show all 22 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-150aa(b) — 2 cases
In Re Rubenstein, 105 B.R. 198 (Bankr. D. Conn. 1989). “State courts may also seek guidance from statutes such as Connecticut General Statutes § 42-150aa(b). 7 See Matter of Salisbury, 58 B.”
Vaccaro v. D'Angelo, 195 A.3d 443 (Conn. App. Ct. 2018).
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