O'Brien Properties, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 215 Conn. 367 (1990)

Citation: O'Brien Properties, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 215 Conn. 367 (1990)
Parent Document: O'Brien Properties, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 215 Conn. 367 (1990)
Jurisdiction: Connecticut (state)
Effective Date: 1990-06-19
Original Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/7894044/obrien-properties-inc-v-rodriguez/ ↗

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The defendants argue that a tenant at sufferance is included within § 47a-l (If s definition of “tenant” by virtue of the language: “or as is otherwise defined by law.” (Emphasis added.) We agree. We note that no word in a statute should be treated as superfluous or insignificant; Harris Data Communications, Inc. v. *373Heffernan, 183 Conn. 194, 197, 438 A.2d 1178 (1981); Green v. Freedom of Information Commission, 178 Conn. 700, 703, 425 A.2d 122 (1979); and that we strive to attach independent meaning to every phrase contained in a legislative enactment. Rawling v. New Haven, 206 Conn. 100, 112, 537 A.2d 439 (1988). Thus, given that § 47a-l (l) expressly states that a person with a rental agreement is a “tenant,” if we are to give any independent meaning to the language “or as is otherwise defined by law,” (emphasis added) we must conclude that certain persons classified as tenants by law who do not have rental agreements are also “tenants” under the statute.

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