12.2 Illegal Contract Parente v. Pirozzoli 866 A.2d 629, 2005 Conn. App. Lexis 25 (Appellate Court of Connecticut, 2005)

Case: Andrew Parente, who had a criminal record, and Mario Pirozzoli Jr. formed a partnership to open a bar. To get the liquor license, Pirozzoli would form a corporation called Centerfolds, Inc., to own the bar, sign the real estate lease for the bar in his name, and file for the liquor license in his name only. The two then signed a partnership agreement for 50/50 ownership. Six years later, Pirozzoli terminated the partnership and kept the business.

Issue: Parente sued Pirozzoli for breach of the partnership agreement to recover the value of his alleged share of the business. Parente's share would have been $138,000. Pirozzoli defended, arguing that the partnership agreement was an illegal contract that should not be enforced against him.

Critical Legal Thinking Question: Yes or No, Is the partnership agreement an illegal contract that is void and unenforceable by the court?