Gordon v. Halstead
Decision Date | 13 February 1969 |
Docket Number | 6 Div. 544 |
Parties | AI GORDON v. C. F. HALSTEAD. |
Court | Alabama Supreme Court |
Jack R. Evans, Tuscaloosa, and Albert W. Copeland and Frank Riggs, III, of Hobbs, Copeland, Franco, Riggs & Screws, Montgomery, for appellant.
Crenshaw & Waller, Montgomery, for appellee.
This is an appeal from a decree setting aside a default judgment in the amount of $25,000 on the ground that the defendant was not served with notice of the suit, and enjoining the plaintiff in that suit from enforcing the judgment.
On February 14, 1966, a judgment by default was entered in favor of appellant Gordon, as plaintiff, in a suit against appellee, C. F. Halstead, individually and doing business as C. F. Halstead, Contractor. The sheriff's return showed personal service on C. F. Halstead. One Charles A. McFarlin was also a defendant in the suit against appellee and had filed an appearance. On March 18, plaintiff Gordon, with the consent of defendant McFarlin, withdrew his demand for a jury trial, struck McFarlin as a party defendant, asked for a writ of inquiry, and plaintiff's damages were fixed at $25,000, the amount sued for and judgment was entered against Halstead, the remaining defendant. More than four months later, Halstead received a letter from the sheriff of Tuscaloosa County, dated October 5, 1966, notifying him to pay the judgment or execution would be levied to collect it.
The instant verified bill to set aside the default judgment was filed October 14, 1966. It averred the circumstances of the damage suit, that Halstead had never been served, that the first notice he had of the suit was the letter from the sheriff dated October 5; and that he had a good and meritorious defense to the action at law, and listed five different defenses in paragraph 9 of the bill. Respondent's answer contained the following:
'Respondent denies all material allegations contained in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 and demands strict proof thereof.'
Trial was had on June 8, 1967, and after the complainant, Halstead, had rested, the following took place:
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Ex parte Wilson Lumber Co., Inc.
...set aside a judgment involve collateral attacks, or do not involve judgments that are void for ineffective service: Gordon v. Halstead, 283 Ala. 578, 219 So.2d 629 (1969); Ex parte Guin, 264 Ala. 268, 87 So.2d 30 (1956); Speegle v. Citizens Bank, 346 So.2d 455 (Ala.App.1977); Taylor v. Tayl......
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Baker v. Goldsmith
...in a bill of review proceeding to prove his meritorious defense by a preponderance of the evidence. See, e. g., Gordon v. Halstead, 283 Ala. 578, 219 So.2d 629, 631 (1969); Olivera v. Grace, 19 Cal.2d 570, 122 P.2d 564, 569 (1942); Overstreet v. Grinstead's Adm'r, 283 Ky. 73, 140 S.W.2d 836......
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Raine v. First Western Bank
...and the party challenging it has the burden of establishing lack of service by clear and convincing proof, Gordon v. Halstead, 283 Ala. 578, 219 So.2d 629 (1969); Howard v. Drinkard, 261 Ala. 555, 74 So.2d 704 (1954); Bastion-Blessing Co. v. Gewin, 217 Ala. 592, 117 So. 197 (1922); Gray v. ......
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Twilley v. Daubert Coated Products, Inc.
...answer to the special interrogatories, is tainted, we believe that justice demands that a new trial be ordered. See Gordon v. Halstead, 283 Ala. 578, 219 So.2d 629 (1969); Ala.Code 1975, § 12-22-70; Rule 1, Daubert also states that we did not address its contention that Twilley is not entit......