The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut v. Ronald S. Gauss

Summary

The court adopted neutral principles of law as Connecticut's exclusive method for resolving church-property disputes and held that the parish property was held in an express trust for the Episcopal Church and the Diocese under the Dennis Canon and related governing documents. Because the parties had already litigated and briefed the relevant issues, no remand was necessary, and summary judgment, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and the equitable accounting order were affirmed. The contempt challenge was dismissed as moot because the defendants produced the required records and no fines were imposed.