Nesbitt v. Nesbitt

• Decision Date: 21 May 1965
• Docket Number: CA-CIV,No. 2,2
• Citation: 402 P.2d 228,1 Ariz.App. 293
• Parties: Carl Lavern NESBITT, Appellant, v. Lesta Clare NESBITT, Appellee. * 53.
• Court: Arizona Court of Appeals

Page 228

402 P.2d 228

1 Ariz.App. 293

Carl Lavern NESBITT, Appellant, v. Lesta Clare NESBITT, Appellee. ^*

No. 2 CA-CIV 53.

Court of Appeals of Arizona.

May 21, 1965.

Wolfe, McCarty, Greer, Knez & Glatz, by Norman C. Wade, Tuscon, for appellant.

Martin S. Rogers, Tucson, for appellee.

HATHAWAY, Judge.

This is an appeal from an order of the Superior Court of Pima County granting appellee's motion to set aside a divorce decree on the ground that said decree was void.

On November 1, 1961, Carl Nesbitt filed a complaint in Superior Court seeking an absolute divorce from Lesta Nesbitt and permanent custody of the two minor children of the parties. On January 12, 1962, the defendant having failed to appear or answer, default was entered. Three days later, Carl was granted a default judgment of divorce and was awarded custody of the minor children subject to reasonable visitation rights of Lesta. At the time of entry of the divorce decree, Lesta, who was 18 1/2 years of age, was not represented at the hearing by a guardian ad litem. Two days after the divorce was granted, Lesta remarried.

On November 1, 1962, Lesta filed a motion and petition to set aside the divorce decree for the reason 'that the defendant is and was a minor under 21 years of age and had no guardian appointed in the above capitoned case.' The motion was opposed by Carl who contended that the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem rendered the judgment only voidable and that Lesta's subsequent conduct of immediately remarrying precluded her from attacking the validity of the divorce decree. The court commissioner ruled that the decree was rendered void by the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem, denied the plaintiff's motion to strike the prayer for attorney's fees asked by Lesta's attorney, and ordered the plaintiff to pay a reasonable attorney's fee.

Appellant's assignments of error, in substance present the following issues for our determination:

1. Does failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant defendant in a divorce action render the judgment void?

2. Is a divorced infant who subsequently remarries precluded from attacking the validity of the divorce decree?

3. Should the husband be required to pay the wife's attorney's fees incurred in her attack on the divorce decree?

Considering first the effect of failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant litigant, we find that Rule 17(g) of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, 16 A.R.S. provides:

'If an infant or incompetent person does not have a duly appointed representative he may sue by his next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant or incompetent person not otherwise represented in an action or shall make such other order as it deems proper for the protection of the infant or incompetent person.'

In part, Rule 55(b) of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure provides:

'1. * * * but no judgment by default shall be entered against an infant or incompetent person unless represented in the action by a general guardian, or other such representative who has appeared therein * * *.'

We do not agree with the appellee's position that the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem renders the judgment void for lack of jurisdiction. Where the court otherwise has jurisdiction, a judgment or decree rendered against an infant without appointment of a guardian ad litem, while it may be erroneous, at most is only voidable, and not absolutely void. 43 C.J.S. Infants § 108b, p. 279; Pacific Coast Joint Stock Land Bank of San Francisco v. Clausen et al., 8 Cal.2d 364, 65 P.2d 352, 353 (1937); Stephenson v. Stephenson, 196 Okl. 623, 167 P.2d 63, 65 (1946); State ex. rel. Richey v. Superior Court for King County, 59 Wash.2d 872, 371 P.2d 51, 55 (1962); Allen v. Hickman, 383 P.2d 676, 678 (Okl.1963); Lane v. Snitz, 389 P.2d 962, 964 (Okl.1964); Savage v. Rowell Distributing Co., 95 So.2d 415, 418 (Fla.1957).

Our Rule 17(g) is patterned after Rule 17(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Consequently, the construction placed on said rule by federal courts is pertinent. These courts have held that failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for an incompetent defendant does not render a judgment void. Till v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 10th Cir., 124 F.2d 405, 409 (1941); Westcott v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 4th Cir., 158 F.2d 20, 22 (1946); Zaro v. Strauss, 5th Cir., 167 F.2d 218, 220 (1948); Roberts v. Ohio Casualty Insurance Co., 5th Cir., 256 F.2d 35, 38 (1958). The Zaro case held that a default judgment rendered against a nonresident incompetent defendant personally served was voidable upon showing that the defendant had a meritorious defense and was not properly represented in the action. Furthermore, as noted by the court in Westcott v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., supra, the word 'or' in the last sentence of Federal Rule 17(c) [providing that the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant not otherwise represented in an action 'or' shall make such other order as it deems proper for his protection] did not mean 'and,' which would have made the appointment of a guardian ad litem mandatory.

Let us now consider the application of Rule 55(b), supra, which directs that no default judgment be entered against an infant unless represented in the action by a general guardian or other representative. This rule further provides that notice of application for judgment shall be given to a defendant who has appeared in the action. However, it has been held that failure to give such notice is not jurisdictional, but merely a procedural irregularity. Rogers v. Tapo, 72 Ariz. 53, 230 P.2d 522, 525 (1951); Stafford v. Dickison, 46 Haw. 52, 374 P.2d 665, 670 (1962). If application is not timely made to set aside the judgment, it becomes res judicata as any judgment entered on the merits. Rogers v. Tapo, supra. Therefore, we hold that the provisions of Rule 55(b) do not render the default judgment herein under consideration void, but merely voidable.

Appellee relies on the following statement in Pintek v. Superior Court In and For Cochise County, 78 Ariz. 179, 183, 277 P.2d 265, 268 (1954):

'While an infant generally may sue or be sued, and is subject to and bound by the same rules of procedure as an adult litigant, yet an infant cannot bring or defend a legal proceeding in person, but must sue or be sued by a legally appointed general guardian, or next friend or a guardian ad litem.'

We cannot agree with appellee's contention that this quotation supports the proposition that failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant defendant nullifies the judgment. It has always been the policy of the law to protect those lacking in experience and of immature mind from artful and designing adults. Byers v. Lemay Bank & Trust Co., 365 Mo. 341, 282 S.W.2d 512, 514 (1955). However, in our zeal for guarding the interests of minors, we must not carry this policy to illogical extremes. It is common knowledge that in our modern life with the expanded opportunities for learning and experience available to the youth of today, a minor 18 years of age very often has attained a high degree of sophistrication. With particular reference to the matter before us, it can hardly be said that Lesta was an inexperienced teen-ager--she had married at age 16, had produced two offspring, and was engrossed in an illicit extramarital affair prior to the divorce.

The controlling factor in determining whether failure to appoint a guardian ad litem requires reversal of or setting aside the judgment is whether substantial rights of the minor have been affected. Pacific Coast Joint Stock Land Bank of San Francisco v. Clausen et al., supra; King v. Wilson, 116 Cal.App. 191, 2 P.2d 833, 834 (1931); Trolinger v. Cluff, 56 Idaho 570, 57 P.2d 332, 335 (1936); 27 Am.Jur. Infants § 121. Consideration of the facts of the instant situation leads this court to conclude that the mere procedural irregularity resulted in no injustice to Lesta. She was personally served with the divorce complaint and summons, giving her notice that Carl was seeking a divorce and custody of the two children. Her mother, who had been appointed her...