Interpretation of Employment Contract In Connecticut

The interpretation of the employment agreement, including whether the subsequent amendments to the plan were intended to be incorporated by reference into the plan is a question of law. When the intent of the parties can be determined within the four corners of a contract, a question of law arises. Amodio v. Amodio, 56 Conn. App. 459, 470, 743 A.2d 1135 (2000); see also Issler v. Issler, 250 Conn. 226, 235, 737 A.2d 383 (1999). "Although ordinarily the question of contract interpretation, being a question of the parties' intent, is a question of fact . . . where there is definitive contract language, the determination of what the parties intended by their contractual commitments is a question of law." Issler v. Issler, supra, 235, quoting Pesino v. Atlantic Bank of New York, 244 Conn. 85, 91, 709 A.2d 540 (1998). "Generally, incorporation by reference of existing documents produces a single contract which includes the contents of the incorporated papers." Randolph Construction Co. v. Kings East Corp., 165 Conn. 269, 275, 334 A.2d 464 (1973). When parties execute a contract that clearly refers to another document, there is an intent to make the terms and conditions of the other document a part of their agreement, as long as both parties are aware of the terms and conditions of the second document. Id., 275-76.