Singleton v. Graham

• Decision Date: 27 March 1998
• Citation: 716 So.2d 224
• Parties: Fred SINGLETON v. Wendy GRAHAM. 2970146.
• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

Page 224

716 So.2d 224

Fred SINGLETON v. Wendy GRAHAM.

2970146.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

March 27, 1998.

Fred Singleton, pro se.

No brief filed for appellee.

ROBERTSON, Presiding Judge.

Fred Singleton appeals from a judgment in favor of Wendy Graham that was entered by the Circuit Court of Jefferson County on appeal from a judgment in Graham's favor entered in the District Court of Jefferson County. Because we conclude that the circuit court did not have appellate jurisdiction, we dismiss Singleton's appeal, with instructions.

Graham filed a complaint in the district court in which she alleged that Singleton's agent had negligently operated a motor vehicle in the scope of his agency so as to cause both personal injury to Graham and damage to her motor vehicle; Graham demanded a judgment for $3,000 plus interest and costs. Singleton failed to answer this complaint, and a judgment by default was entered in favor of Graham for $2,813.50 plus costs on April 20, 1995.

On May 2, 1995, Singleton filed a motion in the district court to set aside the default judgment. Pursuant to Rule 55(dc), Ala.R.Civ.P., a district court judgment may be set aside on the motion of a party filed not later than 14 days after the entry of the judgment. However, such a motion may not remain pending in the district court for more than 14 days without the express consent of all the parties, unless the appellate court to which an appeal of the judgment would lie extends the deadline. Rules 59.1 and 59.1(dc), Ala.R.Civ.P. Thus, Singleton's motion was denied by operation of law on May 16, 1995, 14 days after it was filed, although the district court entered an order two days later purporting to overrule that motion.

On May 31, 1995, 15 days after Singleton's Rule 55 motion was denied by operation of law, he filed in the district court a notice of appeal to the circuit court. That appeal was subsequently docketed in the circuit court, which ultimately entered a default judgment for $3,000 in favor of Graham because Singleton failed to appear on the scheduled trial date. Singleton's subsequent motion to alter, amend, or vacate that judgment was denied by the circuit court, and Singleton appeals from the circuit court's judgment.

Although Graham has not filed a brief on appeal challenging our appellate jurisdiction, we must consider whether we have jurisdiction over this appeal, because "jurisdictional matters are of such magnitude that we take notice of them at any time and do so even ex mero motu." Wallace v. Tee Jays Mfg. Co., 689 So.2d 210, 211 (Ala.Civ.App.1997) (quoting Nunn v. Baker, 518 So.2d 711, 712 (Ala.1987)). "Lack of subject matter jurisdiction may not be waived by the parties and it is the duty of an appellate court to consider lack of subject matter jurisdiction ex mero motu." Smith v. Saint, 438 So.2d 766, 768 (Ala.1983).

We note that § 12-12-70(a), Ala.Code 1975, provides that a notice of appeal from a judgment of a district court must be filed "within 14 days from the date of the judgment or the denial of a posttrial motion, whichever is later." Here, Singleton filed his notice of appeal in the district court 15 days after his post-judgment motion was denied by operation of law; consequently, his notice of appeal was untimely.

In Davis v. Townson, 437 So.2d 1305 (Ala.Civ.App.1983), this court considered an analogous situation wherein a party attempted to appeal from a circuit court judgment entered after an untimely appeal from the district court. We held:

"Contrary to the requirements of section 12-12-70(a), Code 1975, the defendant did not file...