Opinion ID: 2338745
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Writ of attachment

Text: The trial court found that valid grounds existed for the issuance of a writ of attachment before judgment under D.C.Code § 16-501(d)(1), because Corto was not a resident of the District of Columbia, and under § 16-501(d)(3), because Corto was endeavoring to remove her property from the District. Corto does not dispute these findings. Corto claims, however, that the writ of attachment served on the Kennedy Center was ineffective because National failed to file a notarized affidavit, as required by D.C.Code § 16-501, and to have the U.S. Marshall properly attach the production property at the Kennedy Center, as required by § 16-509. Corto also claims that service on her attorney did not constitute proper service of the writ on her. Corto's challenges to the attachment are not properly before us because they were not timely raised before the trial court. [9] As a general rule we will not review matters not asserted at trial. See Williams, supra, 514 A.2d at 1177. Corto did not move to quash the attachment and did not avail herself of any of the other statutory remedies to challenge an attachment set forth in D.C.Code § 16-501 et seq. See also Metro Rentals, Inc. v. Wagner, 435 A.2d 1072, 1074 (D.C. 1981) (holding that trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to quash writ of attachment because appellant did not argue that appellee's writ was deficient or claim unfounded). Consequently, we agree with the trial court's conclusion that Corto cannot raise claims she may have made at the time of attachment in 1985 or during the seven years leading up to trial. In light of the bankruptcy court's determination that Corto's bankruptcy filings were for the purpose of delay, Corto may not rely on the automatic stays from those fraudulent filings to excuse her failure to assert her claims against the attachment. [10]