Defendant, Ron Pingenot, d/b/a Tejón Gallery, appeals the trial court’s order denying his motions to dismiss, set aside, or stay a default judgment which plaintiff, Gary G. Hansen, seeks to enforce under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (the Act). We reverse and remand for the trial court to enter an order dismissing the action.
On August 21, 1984, a default judgment was entered against Pingеnot, a resident of Colorado, in favor of Hansen, a resident of Missouri, by the Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis, Missouri, in the amount of $5,142, plus pre-judgment interest of $1,234.08, and Hansen’s costs. On December 10, 1984, an authenticated copy of the judgment was filеd in the Jefferson County District Court.
Thereafter, Pingenot filed motions to dismiss, set aside, or stay the execution of the default judgment, contending that the Missouri court lacked personal jurisdiction. Pingenot also filed a supporting affidavit in which he stated he had not transacted any business with Hansen in Missouri, either individually, or on behalf of Tejón Gallery, Ltd., a Colorado сorporation. Pingenot further urged that the filing of the judgment in Colorado should be vacated because Hansen, а non-resident, had not filed a bond as security for costs pursuant to § 13-16-101, C.R.S.
By an order dated February 11,1985, the trial court found that thе record before it did not indicate whether the Missouri court had personal jurisdiction over Pingenot when the defаult judgment was entered. Therefore, the court directed that a hearing be held on the issue of jurisdiction. Prior to the hearing, Hansen filed a brief in support of his position, and evidently attached an exemplified copy of the return of service. The return of service is not part of the record before this court.
A hearing was held on April 10, 1985, befоre a different judge. Counsel argued the issue of personal jurisdiction, but no evidence was adduced. The court fоund, after considering the Missouri judgment and the return of service, that Pingenot had received actual notice. Thus, the court reasoned, Pingenot’s challenge to the Missouri court’s jurisdiction should have been raised in Missouri. The court held thаt the Missouri judgment should be accorded full faith and credit, and denied Pingenot’s motions. In its findings and order enforcing the Missouri judgment nunc 'pro tunc, it rulеd that Pingenot had failed to show, “by any type of evidence required by law,” that the Missouri court did not have jurisdiction over his person.
I.
Pingenot first contends that the trial court erred in finding that the Missouri court had acquired personal jurisdiction over him. We agree.
Under U.S. Const. art. IV, § 1, full faith and credit must give to the public acts and judgments of a sister state.
Tucker v. Vista Financial Corp.,
However, if the foreign judgment was rendered without personal jurisdiction over the defendant, the judgment is void and will not be enforced.
Tucker v. Vista Financiаl Corp., supra. See also O’Brien v. Eubanks,
Personal jurisdiction does not depend upon service alone.
See Superior Distributing Corp. v. White,
Hansen argues that the Missouri cоurt acquired jurisdiction over Pingenot by virtue of Missouri’s long arm statute. That statute, Mo.Rev.Stat. § 506.500 (1987) provides, as pertinent herе, that in personam judgment may be obtained by personal service upon a non-resident if the non-resident “Transaсts any business within the state_” Following service in accordance with such provisions, a court of general jurisdiction is рresumed to have jurisdiction over the parties unless disproved by the record or extrinsic evidence.
See Milliken v. Meyer, supra.
This presumption may be rebutted.
Norman v. Kal,
The default judgment of the Missouri court is silent on the issue of jurisdiction, and Hansen tendered no evidence to show that Pingenot had transacted any business there. The mere existence of a default judgment does not establish that the Missouri court had jurisdiсtion, but only raises a presumption of valid jurisdiction.
Pingenot correctly followed the procedure outlined in Superior Distributing Corp. v. White, supra, by making no appearance in Missouri and by moving to dismiss the actiоn when it was filed here. In support of his position at the hearing in Colorado, Pingenot tendered an affidavit which statеs that he did not transact any business within the State of Missouri. Hansen offered no evidence to the contrary.
Under thesе circumstances, we conclude that Pingenot’s affidavit was sufficient to rebut the presumption of valid jurisdiction,
see Nationwide Trailers Rental System, Inc. v. Molthop,
II.
Pingenot’s remaining contention is without merit. He asserts that the judgment should have been dismissed because Hansen failed to file a cost bond under § 13-16-101, C.R.S. In
Hunter Technology, Inc. v. Scott,
The order is reversed and the cause is remanded with directions to dismiss the judgment.
