Rhoades v. Wright

MAUGHAN, Justice:

On appeal is an order of the trial court vacating a writ of attachment; holding that an “attachment is an improper method to confer jurisdiction in a wrongful death case where the tort sued upon arose in another state”; and that the court had no in rem jurisdiction. We reverse and remand for reinstatement of the writ.

In 1970, Claude Rhoades and James Wright each farmed different parcels of land located in Utah and in Colorado. In April of that year, James Wright shot and killed Claude Rhoades within the state of Colorado. Wright was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to life…