Whenever a nuisance is kept or maintained, as defined in this chapter, the state's attorney for the judicial district in which such nuisance is located or any citizen of such judicial district may maintain an action in the Superior Court in the name of the state, upon the relation of such state's attorney or citizen, to perpetually enjoin any such nuisance and the person or persons conducting or maintaining the same from continuing the same and the owner or agent of the building or ground upon which such nuisance exists from permitting such building or ground or both to be so used. Process shall be served therein as in other actions for the abatement of nuisances and, in such action, the court, or judge in vacation, shall, upon the presentation of a verified complaint therefor, alleging that the nuisance complained of exists, issue a temporary writ of injunction without bond. When a temporary injunction is prayed for, the court, on application, may issue an ex parte restraining order, restraining the defendants and all other persons from removing or in any manner interfering with the furniture, fixtures, musical instruments and personal property used in conducting such alleged nuisance, until the application for such temporary injunction is disposed of and until the further order of the court thereon. Such restraining order may be served by leaving a copy of the same with any person in charge of such property or residing in the premises or apartment complained of or by posting a copy thereof in a conspicuous place at or upon one or more of the principal doors or entrances to such premises or apartment where such nuisance is alleged to be maintained or by both such delivery and posting. The officer serving such restraining order shall forthwith make a return to the court and an inventory of the personal property situated in and used in conducting or maintaining such nuisance. The mutilation or removal of any copy posted as herein provided while the same is in force shall be a contempt of court, provided such posted order shall contain notice to that effect. Three days' notice in writing shall be given the defendants of the hearing on the application for a temporary injunction, and, if continued at the instance of the defendant, such temporary injunction shall be granted as a matter of course. Each defendant, so notified, shall serve upon the complainant or his attorney a verified answer on or before the date fixed in such notice for such hearing; but the court may allow additional time for answering, provided such extension of time shall not prevent the issuing of such temporary writ as prayed for. The allegations of the answer shall be deemed to be denied without further pleading. Such action shall be returnable to the Superior Court, and in such action evidence of the general reputation of the place shall be admissible for the purpose of proving the existence of such nuisance and shall be prima facie evidence of such nuisance and of knowledge and participation therein on the part of the owners, lessors, lessees, users and all those in possession of, or having charge of as agent or otherwise, or having any interest in, any property used in conducting or maintaining such nuisance. If the complaint is brought by a citizen, it shall not be dismissed except upon a sworn statement made by the complainant and his attorney, setting forth the reasons why the action should be dismissed, and the dismissal shall be approved by the state's attorney, in writing or in open court. If the court is of the opinion that the action ought not to be dismissed, it may direct the state's attorney to prosecute such action to judgment, and, if the action is continued more than one term of court, any citizen of the judicial district or the state's attorney may be substituted for the complaining party and prosecute such action to judgment. If the action is brought by a citizen and the court finds no reasonable ground or cause for such action, the costs shall be taxed against such citizen.

(1949 Rev., S. 4207; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127.)

History: P.A. 78-280 replaced “county” with “judicial district”; Sec. 19-317 transferred to Sec. 19a-346 in 1983.