Court Opinion

ID: 9516556
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 23:45:14.816216+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:34.852094
License: Public Domain

STEADMAN, Associate Judge,
concurring:
Appellee’s motion for summary judgment squarely set forth two distinct grounds for summary judgment: first, the failure of proof of a common-law marriage, and second, the failure to comply with the requirements for renunciation of a bequest in order to claim against the will. Appellant’s responses to the motion did not address the second argument. The trial court found in favor of the plaintiff on both grounds yet, again on appeal, appellant briefed only the first ground.1 Accordingly, for the reasons stated in part III of the majority opinion, the trial court’s grant of summary judgment can be sustained on that ground alone, see Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842 & nn. 7-8, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2781 & nn. 7-8, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984) (appellate courts review judgments, not opinions), and I would find it unnecessary to reach the common-law marriage issue discussed in part II.

. To raise an issue for the first time on oral argument is too late, even if properly preserved in the trial court. See Ramos v. United States, 569 A.2d 158, 162 n. 5 (D.C.1990) (citing D.C.App.R. 28’s requirements that appellant’s brief "shall contain,” inter alia, a statement of issues and "the contentions of the appellant with respect to the issues presented ...” to find that appellants "tardy attempt to raise a Fifth Amendment claim at oral argument [was] unavailing”); United States v. A Parcel of Land, 884 F.2d 41, 44 (1st Cir.1989) (argument not made in brief waived, “even though it comprised the main thrust of their oral argument to this court”).