Sec. 52-278i. (Formerly Sec. 52-282). Order for prejudgment remedy on set-off or counterclaim. Any defendant in any civil action, upon filing a set-off or counterclaim containing a claim for money damages, may, at any time during the pendency of
such action, apply in writing to the court before which such action is pending, or, when
such court is not in session, to any judge thereof, for an order for a prejudgment remedy
against the estate of the party or parties against whom such claim has been made. Such
application shall be substantially in the form provided by subsection (b) of section 52-278c, adapted accordingly. A hearing on such motion shall be held in accordance with
the provisions of section 52-278d, adapted accordingly, and if the court, upon consideration of the facts before it, finds that the defendant has shown probable cause to believe
that judgment will be rendered in the matter in favor of the defendant, then the prejudgment remedy applied for shall be granted as requested or as modified by the court and
the court shall issue such an order, directed to any proper officer, stating the amount
and estate to be attached and the time of return, which order shall be served and returned
in the same manner as an original writ of attachment, and when returned shall become
a part of the files and records in the action. The estate attached shall be held to respond
to the final judgment in the same manner as if it had been attached in an action originally
brought for the recovery of the amount claimed in such set-off or counterclaim. The
provisions of section 52-278e, except subdivision (1) of subsection (a) thereof, and
sections 52-278f and 52-278g, adapted accordingly, shall apply to any application for
a prejudgment remedy sought under this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 8070; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 180; P.A. 75-459, S. 1, 3; P.A. 82-472, S. 139, 183; P.A. 86-403, S. 102, 132;
P.A. 93-431, S. 5, 10.)
History: 1959 act removed provisions granting justices of the peace same powers as those of court or judge under
section; P.A. 75-459 applied provisions to prejudgment remedies rather than to attachments of property, adding provisions
re form of application, hearing procedure and re applicability of Secs. 52-278e to 52-278g; Sec. 52-282 transferred to Sec.
52-278i in 1977; P.A. 82-472 made technical changes to internal section references; P.A. 86-403 made technical change;
P.A. 93-431 provided that the prejudgment remedy shall be granted if the court finds the defendant has shown probable
cause "to believe that judgment will be rendered in the matter in favor of the defendant" rather than "to sustain the validity
of his claim" and made technical changes, effective January 1, 1994.
Cited. 141 C. 55; 152 C. 641. Cited. 188 C. 69, 88. Cited. 226 C. 773, 784. P.A. 93-431 cited. Id.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Sec. 52-278j. Dismissal or withdrawal of prejudgment remedy. (a) If an application for a prejudgment remedy is granted but the plaintiff, within thirty days thereof,
does not serve and return to court the writ, summons and complaint for which the prejudgment remedy was allowed, the court shall dismiss the prejudgment remedy.
(b) If an application for a prejudgment remedy is denied and the plaintiff, within
thirty days thereof, does not serve and return to court the writ of summons and complaint
for which the prejudgment remedy was requested, or if a date for a hearing upon a
prejudgment remedy is scheduled by the clerk and such hearing is not commenced within
thirty days thereof, except as provided in section 52-278e, the court shall order the
application to be considered as having been withdrawn.
(c) An application for a prejudgment remedy or a prejudgment remedy which is
granted but not served may be withdrawn in the same manner as a civil cause of action.
(P.A. 76-21, S. 1-3; P.A. 78-36; P.A. 91-315, S. 3, 5.)
History: P.A. 78-36 allowed application to be considered as withdrawn if hearing date is scheduled and hearing is not
commenced within ninety days of that date in Subsec. (b); P.A. 91-315 amended Subsec. (a) to reduce the time period
from "ninety days" to "thirty days" and to make the dismissal by the court mandatory rather than discretionary and amended
Subsec. (b) to reduce the time periods from "ninety days" to "thirty days" and to make the court's action in ordering the
withdrawal of the application mandatory rather than discretionary.
Cited. 186 C. 295, 297, 299 (Diss. Op.), 300 (Diss. Op.). Cited. 188 C. 69, 88.
Cited. 34 CA 303, 307.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 186 C. 295, 297.
Cited. 34 CA 303, 305.
Sec. 52-278k. Modification of prejudgment remedy. The court may, upon any
application for prejudgment remedy under section 52-278c, 52-278e, 52-278h or 52-278i, modify the prejudgment remedy requested as may be warranted by the circumstances. The court may, upon motion and after hearing, at any time modify or vacate
any prejudgment remedy granted or issued under this chapter upon the presentation of
evidence which would have justified such court in modifying or denying such prejudgment remedy under the standards applicable at an initial hearing.
(P.A. 76-401, S. 3, 7; P.A. 91-315, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 91-315 authorized the court to modify or vacate any prejudgment remedy "issued under this chapter"
using "the standards applicable" at an initial hearing, and made technical changes.
Cited. 180 C. 501, 504. Cited. 181 C. 42-46. Cited. 188 C. 69, 88. Cited. 218 C. 512, 516. Cited. 219 C. 620, 625.
Cited. 223 C. 68, 73. Cited. 238 C. 172.
Cited. 2 CA 388-390. Cited. 11 CA 289, 293, 295. Cited. 16 CA 700, 702. Cited. 39 CA 149, 150, 153, 154.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Sec. 52-278l. Appeal. (a) An order (1) granting or denying a prejudgment remedy
following a hearing under section 52-278d or (2) granting or denying a motion to dissolve
or modify a prejudgment remedy under section 52-278e or (3) granting or denying a
motion to preserve an existing prejudgment remedy under section 52-278g shall be
deemed a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(b) No such appeal shall be taken except within seven days of the rendering of the
order from which the appeal is to be taken.
(c) No such order shall be stayed by the taking of an appeal except upon the order
of the judge who made such order, and any such stay shall be granted only if the party
taking the appeal posts a bond, with surety, in a sum determined by such judge to be
sufficient to indemnify the adverse party for any damages which may accrue as a result
of such stay.
(d) If a motion to discharge such prejudgment remedy is brought by the defendant,
the property affected by such remedy may be restored to the use of the defendant, if the
defendant posts a bond with surety in an amount determined by such judge to be sufficient to indemnify the plaintiff for any damages which may accrue by the defendant's
continued use of such property, until such time as such motion is decided.
(P.A. 76-401, S. 4, 7.)
Cited. 181 C. 42, 45, 46. Implied power exists for trial court to grant extension of time within which to take an appeal.
182 C. 577, 578. Cited. 188 C. 69, 88. Cited. 192 C. 1, 7; Id., 150, 152, 153. Cited. 213 C. 612, 619. Cited. 220 C. 152,
156. Cited. Id., 904. Cited. 222 C. 331, 340. Cited. 223 C. 68, 73, 74. Cited. 224 C. 29, 31. Cited. 226 C. 757-764, 766,
767. Cited. Id., 773, 775, 781. Cited. 229 C. 455, 456. Cited. 230 C. 441, 447. Cited. 232 C. 216, 217. Cited. 233 C. 44,
63. Cited. Id., 153, 164. Cited. 236 C. 746, 748. Cited. 237 C. 339, 344. Cited. 240 C. 623.
Cited. 1 CA 519. Cited. 10 CA 144. Cited. 11 CA 289, 291, 293. Cited. 21 CA 661, 665. Does not apply to appeal of
a temporary injunction. 25 CA 28-30, 33. Cited 29 CA 48, 54. Cited. 34 CA 303, 304. Cited. 36 CA 469-471. Cited. 41
CA 737, 740, 741. Cited. 45 CA 324.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 181 C. 42, 45. Cited. 184 C. 85, 87. Subdiv. (1) cited. 218 C. 162, 163. Subdiv. (2) cited. 223 C. 68, 74. Cited.
226 C. 757, 761, 762.
Cited. 2 CA 388, 390. Subpara. (2) cited. Id., 388, 390, 391; 6 CA 622. Cited. 11 CA 289, 293. Cited. 39 CA 149, 150, 154.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 181 C. 42, 46. Cited. 186 C. 329, 336. Cited. 223 C. 68, 75. Cited. 226 C. 757, 765-767. Cited. 235 C. 650, 656, 658.
Cited. 1 CA 188, 190. Cited. 10 CA 144. Cited. 21 CA 661, 665. Cited. 36 CA 469, 471. Cited. 41 CA 737, 741. Cited.
45 CA 324. Appeal that was filed nine months after order for a prejudgment remedy was granted is untimely. 53 CA 425.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 226 C. 757, 766.
Cited. 6 CA 622, 624. Cited. 21 CA 661, 666. Cited. 28 CA 809, 814. Cited. 36 CA 469, 471. Cited. 41 CA 737, 741.
Sec. 52-278m. When personal service not required. Whenever a prejudgment
remedy is sought under the provisions of sections 52-278h or 52-278i against a party
who has previously filed a general appearance in such action, personal service of any
application or order upon such party shall not be required, unless ordered by the court,
but any such application or order may be served in the same manner as any motion in
such action.
(P.A. 76-401, S. 5, 7.)
Cited. 188 C. 69, 88.
This section and Sec. 52-278h control where the present action has already been instituted. 54 CA 394.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Sec. 52-278n. Motion to disclose property. Order for disclosure. Substitution
of surety. (a) The court may, on motion of a party, order an appearing defendant to
disclose property in which he has an interest or debts owing to him sufficient to satisfy
a prejudgment remedy. The existence, location and extent of the defendant's interest in
such property or debts shall be subject to disclosure. The form and terms of disclosure
shall be determined by the court.
(b) A motion to disclose pursuant to this section may be made by attaching it to the
application for a prejudgment remedy or may be made at any time after the filing of the
application.
(c) The court may order disclosure at any time prior to final judgment after it has
determined that the party filing the motion for disclosure has, pursuant to section 52-278d, 52-278e or 52-278i, probable cause sufficient for the granting of a prejudgment
remedy.
(d) A defendant, in lieu of disclosing assets pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,
may move the court for substitution either of a bond with surety substantially in compliance with sections 52-307 and 52-308, or of other sufficient security.
(e) Rules of court shall be enacted to carry out the foregoing provisions and may
provide for reasonable sanctions to enforce orders issued pursuant to this section.
(P.A. 81-410, S. 1; P.A. 86-403, S. 86, 132; P.A. 93-431, S. 6, 10.)
History: P.A. 86-403 made technical change in Subsec. (c); P.A. 93-431 amended Subsec. (c) to replace "issuance of
a prejudgment remedy" with "granting of a prejudgment remedy", effective January 1, 1994.
Cited. 188 C. 69, 88. Cited. 226 C. 773, 784. P.A. 93-431 cited. Id.
Cited. 19 CA 256, 260, 264. Cited. 29 CA 48, 54, 55.
Cited. 38 CS 98, 102.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 29 CA 48, 51.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 29 CA 48, 55.