SHERWOOD & ROBERTS, INC., a Washington corporation, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Robert A. RIPLINGER and Kathy Riplinger, husband and wife, Defendants-Appellants.
No. 13412.
Supreme Court of Idaho.
Sept. 8, 1982.
650 P.2d 677 | 103 Idaho 535
Dale G. Higer and Thomas R. Linville, of Eberle, Berlin, Kading, Turnbow & Gillespie, Boise, for plaintiff-respondent.
This is an appeal from the district court‘s denial of a motion to set aside a default judgment. The appellant, Robert Riplinger,1 was employed by respondent Sherwood & Roberts, Inc., from February, 1969, to February, 1970, as a loan officer. In February, 1970, the respondent accused Riplinger of misappropriating funds. Rather than face criminal prosecution, Riplinger and his wife, Kathy, signed a “Memorandum of Agreement” on April 1, 1970, admitting among other things that “funds of Sherwood & Roberts were diverted to the bank account of Robert and Kathy Riplinger for their personal use ...,” and agreeing to repay the amount of the loss to Sherwood & Roberts. On May 1, 1970, the appellant and his wife signed a promissory note in favor of Sherwood & Roberts for $20,000 pursuant to the “Memorandum of Agreement.”
The Riplingers made payments on the note through January, 1976, and then ceased making further payments. In September, 1976, Sherwood & Roberts filed a complaint against the Riplingers to collect on the balance of the note. On October 7, 1976, Robert Thompson filed a notice of appearance as counsel for Riplingers. Thereafter, an answer and counterclaim were filed. On October 20, 1978, Thompson filed a motion for leave to withdraw as attorney for the appellant.2 On October 27, 1978, in accordance with
“NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that ROBERT H. THOMPSON is granted leave to withdraw as attorney for the defendant(s) and shall send by certified mail a copy of this order directing the defendant(s) to appoint another attorney to appear, or to appear in person by filing a written notice with the court stating how they will represent themselves within twenty (20) days from the date of this order. Such failure to appear in the action within twenty (20) days shall be sufficient grounds for entry of default against the defendant(s) without further notice to the defendant(s).”4
Two affidavits of personal service of the order permitting withdrawal of attorney appear in the record. Both were served on November 8 by the same process server at different addresses. The appellant admitted receiving a copy of the order, and he telephoned the court clerk on November 13, 1978. Riplinger maintains that he told the court clerk that he intended to defend the action, and if nothing else that he would represent himself. A note made by the clerk of that conversation was read by the trial court as follows:
“Mr. Bob Riplinger called this date advising that he has received notice from Robert Thompson that he has withdrawn from representing Mr. Riplinger. He advised that he did not receive this notice until the time for him to make an appearance or file written notice had expired. I advised Mr. Riplinger that he should decide as soon as possible how he intends to proceed and then notify the court of his intentions as soon as possible.”5
Riplinger took no further action, and pursuant to Sherwood & Robert‘s request, the court entered an order of default and a judgment against Riplinger on the basis that he had “failed to file notice stating how said defendant shall represent himself ....” Subsequently, respondent settled with Kathy Riplinger, and the action against her was dismissed by stipulation. Riplinger‘s first notice of the default judgment against him appears to have been when a writ of execution was served on his employer on April 20, 1979. He then contacted his present attorney who filed a motion to set aside the entry of the default and default judgment on May 16, 1979. After a hearing, the court denied that motion, and that denial is the subject of this appeal.
I
The appellant argues initially that having once appeared in the action, judgment should not have been rendered against him without first providing him with “written notice of the application for judgment at least three days prior to the hearing on such application,” as required under
“3-206. NOTICE TO APPOINT ANOTHER ATTORNEY.—When one party‘s attorney dies, is removed, suspended, or ceases to act as such, the adverse party must, before any further proceedings can be had by written notice, require such party to appoint another attorney or to appear in person. Notice of compliance must thereafter and within twenty days be given to the party requesting appointment. Failure to give such notice within the time specified shall be sufficient to justify default entry or dismissal of action.” (Emphasis added.)
In that case the defendant Crouse was served with a notice to appear or appoint new counsel, and was then defaulted without further notice when he failed to appear or appoint new counsel. In that case, we held that the three day notice under
However,
Additionally, in regard to the question of notice, it is urged that
The appellant also argues that his verbal contact with the clerk of the court was sufficient to constitute an appearance. However, the order unambiguously required a written notice of how the appellant intended to represent himself. In Cuoio v. Koseris, 68 Idaho 483, 200 P.2d 359 (1948), a judge, by telephone, orally extended the time limit for filing an answer for “a few days.” Nevertheless, three days before the answer was filed, a default was entered. The district court later set the default aside on the basis of the oral extension. However, on appeal, this Court reversed the setting aside of the default, holding that the oral communication by the judge “was not a recognizable order effective to grant further time.” 68 Idaho at 485, 200 P.2d at 360. If a specific oral extension of time by a judge was insufficient in Cuoio to alter the procedural requirements imposed by law upon the defendant in that case, then certainly in this case the defendant‘s telephonic communication with a clerk of the court, in which the clerk did nothing more than advise the defendant that “he should decide as soon as possible how he intend[ed] to proceed and then notify the court,” is insufficient to relieve the defendant of the requirement of filing a written notice as set forth in both
III
It is next contended that the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment prohibits the entry of a default judgment against a party who has timely appeared and filed responsive pleadings. The appellant relies in particular upon Hovey v. Elliott, 167 U.S. 409, 17 S.Ct. 841, 42 L.Ed. 215 (1897). In Hovey, the defendants who had already appeared and answered in the action were ordered by the court to deposit into the court registry certain sums which were the subject of the suit. The defendants failed to obey the order and the plaintiffs moved the court to punish the defendants for disobedience of the order. Thereafter, the court ordered that the defendants’ answer “be stricken out and removed from the files of the court, and that this cause do proceed as if no answer herein had been interposed.” 167 U.S. at 412, 17 S.Ct. at 842. Then, judgment was entered against the defendants pro confesso. The United States Supreme Court, in reviewing the judgment, held that the judgment was invalid. The Court stated that “[t]he right which was here denied by rejecting the answer and taking the bill for confessed, because of the contempt, involved an essential element of due process of law,” and that “the [court below] did not possess the power to disregard an answer which was in all respects sufficient.” 167 U.S. at 444, 17 S.Ct. at 854.
Subsequently, in Hammond Packing Co. v. Arkansas, 212 U.S. 322, 29 S.Ct. 370, 53 L.Ed. 530 (1908), the Supreme Court “substantially modified”8 its holding in Hovey to permit the sanction of default for a party‘s failure to comply with discovery orders.9 In so doing, the court stated the following:
”Hovey v. Elliott involved a denial of all right to defend as a mere punishment. This case presents a failure by the defendant to produce what we must assume was material evidence in its possession, and a resulting striking out of an answer and a default. The proceeding here taken may therefore find its sanction in the undoubted right of the lawmaking power to create a presumption of fact as to the bad faith and untruth of an answer to be gotten from the suppression or failure to
produce the proof ordered, when such proof concerned the rightful decision of the cause.” 212 U.S. at 350-51, 29 S.Ct. at 379-380.
The court in Hammond also recognized that the ability of a court to default a defendant for failure to appear or file an answer rested as well on the court‘s power to create a presumption that, by failing to appear or plead, the defendant admits the material facts of the complaint. 212 U.S. at 351, 29 S.Ct. at 380.
In comparing Hovey with Hammond, it appears that the reason the sanction in Hovey was determined to be “mere punishment” was because the objective of the underlying order in Hovey required an act which was ancillary to obtaining an adjudication of the merits. The paying in of moneys to the court registry was not an essential step in determining the validity of Hovey‘s claim, and it had no bearing on the merits of the defendant‘s defense. In contrast, a defendant‘s appearance, answer, and compliance with discovery requests are all central to the adjudicative process, and concern “the rightful decision of the cause.” Id. The courts have inherent power to establish reasonable rules to manage their own affairs and achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. Link v. Wabash RR. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31, 82 S.Ct. 1386, 1388-1389, 8 L.Ed.2d 734 (1962). Thus, when defendants fail to proceed with their defense in accordance with those rules, the courts are justified in creating such presumptions as addressed in Hammond.
In the present case, the defendant failed to file a written notice of appearance or the appointment of new counsel within the prescribed time limit. This failure to comply with
The presumption of abandonment raised by a defendant‘s failure to proceed in an action in accordance with court rules may be rebutted by any reasonable showing of inability to comply with those rules. Societe Internationale pour Participations Industrielles et Commerciales, S.A. v. Rogers, supra. However, in this case the defendant made no showing of inability to comply with
IV
Respondent requests an award of attorney fees. In signing the promissory note, Riplinger agreed that in case a suit or action to collect the note was instituted he would “pay such sum as the court may adjudge reasonable as attorney fees in such suit or action.” Attorney fees are therefore allowed pursuant to the agreement.
The order of the district court is affirmed. Costs and attorney fees to respondent.
DONALDSON and SHEPARD, JJ., concur.
McFADDEN, Justice, dissenting.
There is a rule of statutory construction followed in this state, that where earlier and later acts are not necessarily in conflict and may be reconciled by reasonable construction, enactment of a later act will not result in repeal of an earlier act. This is because repeals by implication are not favored. Ada County v. State, 93 Idaho 830, 475 P.2d 367 (1970); State v. Roderick, 85 Idaho 80, 375 P.2d 1005 (1962). The majority ignores this rule and instead resolves the matter in favor of
The second reason that the majority‘s conclusion is incorrect is that there is no conflict between
Therefore, even if default may be entered under
BISTLINE, Justice, dissenting.
PREFACE
When it befell my lot to write the Court‘s unanimous opinion in Sierra Life Insurance Co. v. Magic Valley Newspapers, Inc., 101 Idaho 795, 623 P.2d 103 (1980), I labored under the premise that the Court was firmly of the belief that entry of a default judgment as a punishment for failure to comply with a direct order of the trial court compelling revelation of sources was improper. Now, two years later, upon observing the Court‘s gross misapplication of its own rules, with little regard for the underlying facts, and no regard for Sierra Life, I am brought to wonder how I would have voted in Sierra Life if that case had followed today‘s case in point of time—rather than preceding it. Surely the two cases cannot stand together in the same reporter system. If the losers in Sierra Life are outraged at seeing the disparity in the Court‘s philosophical meanderings, they may not be without justification. In Jensen v. Doherty, 101 Idaho 910, 623 P.2d 1287 (1981), which followed shortly after Sierra, there was some forewarning that the Court would apply its own rules on an ad hoc basis and as it saw fit, but at least the issue in that case was more difficult to comprehend, and perhaps my effort was inadequate to forestall the Court‘s movement in the wrong direction.
On the positive side, the Court‘s opinion today, compared to its summary disposition in Jensen, is a monumental effort, and goes to extremes in explaining to Mr. Riplinger why he doesn‘t deserve a day in court and why a $20,000 judgment against him will stand because he failed to provide a written statement to the effect that when his case—at issue and ready for trial—came up for trial, he would represent himself if he could not afford or otherwise was unable to obtain an attorney who would speak for him. In days gone by, the default judgment involved in this case would have been set aside out-of-hand:
“In addressing the effect of noncompliance with procedural statutes and rules, the Court in Stoner v. Turner, 73 Idaho 117, 121, 247 P.2d 469, 471 (1952), said:
‘The object of statutes and rules regulating procedure in the courts is to promote the administration of justice. Those statutes and rules which fix the time within which procedural rights are to be asserted are intended to expedite the disposition of causes to the end that justice will not be denied by inexcusable and unnecessary delay. But, except as to those which are mandatory or jurisdictional, procedural regulations should not be so applied as to defeat their primary purpose, that is, the disposition of causes upon their substantial merits without delay or prejudice.‘”
Bunn v. Bunn, 99 Idaho 710, 711, 587 P.2d 1245, 1246 (1978). (Emphasis added.)
A lay litigant‘s failure to give a written statement of his intentions, after having done so verbally, does not in any way delay or prejudice the disposition of a cause which is at issue and ready for trial. Cf. Dustin v. Beckstrand, 103 Idaho 780, 654 P.2d 368 (1982) (defendants appeared pro se, remained pro se, and despite their nonattendance at trial, were awarded a reversal of the judgment against them. Note the dissenting opinion of Bakes, C. J., which advocated setting aside the judgment of liability as well, notwithstanding that the defendants failed to furnish the trial court with an address).
I.
I concur with Justice McFadden that
On October 20, 1978, Riplinger‘s attorney, Robert Thompson, filed a motion for leave to withdraw, stating “that repeated efforts to contact the defendant(s) have not been productive and the attorney-client relationship cannot continue.” Thompson also filed an affidavit for service by certified mail, stating that he had not been able to contact Riplinger and that Riplinger‘s last known address was “Rt. 3 Box 710B, Post Falls, Kathy Riplinger—c/o Kenneth Jacobsen, 118 N. 7th St., CDA.” On October 27, 1978, the court entered the following order granting withdrawal:1
“Upon hearing ROBERT H. THOMPSON‘S, motion for leave to withdraw on this 27th day of October, 1978, and based upon his affidavit for service by certified mail, and upon the affidavit of service of the notice of hearing and motion for leave to withdraw,
“NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that ROBERT H. THOMPSON is granted leave to withdraw as attorney for the defendant(s) and shall send by certified mail a copy of this order directing the Defendant(s) to appoint another attorney to appear, or to appear in person by filing a written notice with the court stating how they will represent themselves within twenty (20) days from the date of this order. Such failure to appear in the action within twenty (20) days shall be sufficient grounds for entry of default against the defendant(s) without further notice to the defendant(s).”
Two affidavits of personal service of the order permitting withdrawal of attorney, one served at Rt. 3, Box 710B, Post Falls, Idaho, and one served at 315 West Garden, Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho, appear in the record. Both were served on November 8th by the same process server. Riplinger telephoned the court clerk on November 13, 1978, about this order. Riplinger maintains that he told the clerk that he intended to defend the action, and if nothing else that he would represent himself. A note made by the clerk of that conversation was read by the trial court as follows:
“Mr. Bob Riplinger called this date advising that he has received notice from Robert Thompson that he has withdrawn from representing Mr. Riplinger. He advised that he did not receive this notice until the time for him to make an appearance or file written notice has expired.2 I advised Mr. Riplinger that he should decide as soon as possible how he intends to proceed and then notify the court of his intentions as soon as possible.”
Riplinger took no further action, and on December 14, 1978, Sherwood filed an affidavit of failure to plead or otherwise defend in support of its application for entry of default3 as well as other supporting affi-
A writ of execution was served on Riplinger‘s employer on April 20, 1979; Riplinger asserts that this was his first knowledge of the default judgment that had been entered against him. He was then able to retain his present attorney who with reasonable alacrity moved to set aside the entry of default and default judgment. In the affidavit in support of this motion Riplinger stated that during the period of time involved in this lawsuit he had been undergoing a traumatic period of marital problems, including a separation and divorce from Kathy Riplinger, followed by a marriage to his second wife, another separation, and another divorce. Riplinger also stated that he had never resided at Rt. 3,
“As soon as the affiant realized that there was a default judgment he contacted ... [his present] attorney, to do whatever he could to move to set aside the default judgment. The affiant did not feel that the length of time between Mr. Thompson‘s withdrawal and the Writ of Execution was unreasonable without any activity in this matter, as this matter, begun in the Fall of 1976, had had long periods of inactivity. At no time did the affiant understand that he had to file something in writing with the Court, other than his contacting the Court by telephone, and indicating that he would represent himself if necessary. Affiant did not obtain the services of a second attorney in this matter in that he did not have the funds to do so. Affiant has had no previous experience with Court litigation, and assumed that this matter could not go to judgment against him without first going to Court for a trial on the matter. Affiant feels that he has a meritorious defense as stated in his counterclaim in this matter, and does wish the Court to allow him an opportunity to present that defense by allowing him to have his day in Court.”
After hearing oral argument, the trial court denied the motion to set aside the entry of default and default judgment. The court in its comments from the bench explained why it was denying the motion:
“... I am fully aware of the basic concept ... that it is better that litigation be decided and litigated on its merits ... rather than by default and that it is a very fair and just rule which we should try to apply. By the same token ... there has got to be some order of finality that matters as they come along cannot be continually time and again reopened upon some excuse or the other.
“I think that is the fundamental purpose then behind Rule 60(b) that says reopening of these matters must be predicated upon a showing of some excusable mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect. The only mistake that I can see here is that Mr. Riplinger just plain didn‘t read or understand the very plain language of the order that he admits receiving. He didn‘t act upon it. The same would be said for inadvertence. There has been no showing in the court‘s opinion of any excusable neglect. In fact the record of that shows that he did receive it, he did act on it at least partially or initially but didn‘t follow up as required action.
“So, I must, I am afraid conclude that there just hasn‘t been the necessary showing of mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect under Rule 60(b) that would justify the setting aside of this default. Of course it has been pointed out out and it can be noted here that there may be some prejudice resulting to the Plaintiff. If forced to go to trial now they would be in the posture of two co-makers on a note, one having been released and not before the jury and it might put the Plaintiff in the precarious position were that posture before the jury that the jurors might have the feeling that Plaintiff was excusing the former Mrs. Riplinger and picking on this particular Defendant. And, that feeling could react unfavorably for the Plaintiff in a jury trial.
“So, I think, considering all of these things I will have to deny the motion to set aside default.” (Emphasis added.)
While
“If an attorney is granted leave to withdraw, the court shall enter an order permitting the attorney to withdraw and directing his client to appoint another attorney to appear, or to appear in person by filing a written notice with the court stating how he will represent himself, within 20 days from the date of order. After the order is entered, the withdrawing attorney shall forthwith, with due diligence, serve copies of the same upon his client and all other parties to the action. In the event the withdrawing attorney is unable to make personal service of such notice upon his client, as shown by the attorney‘s affidavit, he may make such service by certified mail to the last known address most likely to give notice to his client, which service shall be complete upon mailing. Upon the entry of an order granting leave to an attorney to withdraw from an action, no further proceedings can be had in that action which will affect the rights of the party of the withdrawing attorney for a period of 20 days, but if such party fails to appear in the action either in person or through a newly appointed attorney within such 20 day period, such failure shall be sufficient ground for entry of default against such party or dismissal of the action of such party, with prejudice, without further notice which shall be stated in the order of the court.” (Emphasis added.)
Under the majority‘s incorrect application of the general rule that a more specific statute controls over a general one, the majority‘s inappropriate application of
III.
At the outset I note that the withdrawal of an attorney does not result in withdrawing the client‘s appearance or pleadings. Harris v. Juenger, 367 Ill. 478, 11 N.E.2d 929 (1937); Dealers Warehouse Co. v. Wahl & Associates, 216 N.W.2d 391 (Iowa 1974); Sawyer v. Sawyer, 261 Iowa 112, 152 N.W.2d 605 (1967); Overmyer v. Eliot Realty, 83 Misc.2d 694, 371 N.Y.S.2d 246, 258 (Sup.Ct.1975); Tiffin v. Hendricks, 44 Wash.2d 837, 271 P.2d 683 (1954); Annot. 64 A.L.R.2d 1424, 1434-35, 1443-44; 6 C.J.S. Appearances § 30a; 5 Am.Jur.2d Appearance § 37. This rule is based on the common-sense proposition that an attorney‘s withdrawal from a case does not affect the merits of his or her client‘s position and
Thus
In Sierra Life Insurance Co. v. Magic Valley Newspapers, Inc., 101 Idaho 795, 623 P.2d 103 (1980), this Court noted that “there are constitutional limitations upon the power of courts, even in aid of their own valid processes, to dismiss an action without affording a party the opportunity for a hearing on the merits of his cause.” Id. at 799, 623 P.2d at 107 (quoting Societe Internationale pour Participations Industrielles et Commerciales, S.A. v. Rogers, 357 U.S. 197, 78 S.Ct. 1087, 2 L.Ed.2d 1255 (1958)). In Sierra this Court held that the trial court erred in striking defendant‘s pleadings and entering a default judgment because the sanctions were overly harsh and in the nature of punishment rather than being justified in order to allow Sierra to develop its case. Id. 101 Idaho at 800, 623 P.2d at 108.
While it is unquestioned that a court has the power to dismiss lawsuits and default defendants in order to control its own processes, see, e.g., Link v. Wabash RR, 370 U.S. 626, 82 S.Ct. 1386, 8 L.Ed.2d 734 (1962) (long delays culminating in missing pretrial conference justify dismissal without notice or hearing); Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. v. Continental Record Co., 386 F.2d 426 (2d Cir. 1967) (one year refusal to obtain counsel in cavalier disregard of court‘s order justified default), such power is not unlimited. See, e.g., Hovey v. Elliott, 167 U.S. 409, 17 S.Ct. 841, 42 L.Ed. 215 (1897); Sierra Life Insurance Co. v. Magic Valley Newspapers, supra. The question before us now is whether entering a default judgment against Riplinger in the present case, without notice, and when there had been no evidence of an intent to delay the lawsuit by Riplinger, constituted imposition of an impermissible sanction in violation of due process.
In Hovey v. Elliott, 167 U.S. 409, 17 S.Ct. 841, 42 L.Ed. 215 (1897), the defendants refused to obey an order of the court directing them to pay a sum of money into the court registry. The trial court held them in contempt, struck their answer, and entered a default for plaintiff. The United States Supreme Court held “[i]t is therefore clear that the supreme court of the District of Columbia did not possess the power to disregard an answer which was in all respects sufficient, and had been regularly filed, and to ignore the proof taken in its support ...,” and that a judgment based on such an assumed power is void for want of jurisdiction. Id. at 444, 17 S.Ct. at 854. In so holding the Court stated:
“[T]he fundamental conception of a court of justice is condemnation only after hearing. To say that courts have inherent power to deny all right to defend an action, and to render decrees without any hearing whatever, is, in the very nature
of things, to convert the court exercising such an authority into an instrument of wrong and oppression, and hence to strip it of that attribute of justice upon which the exercise of judicial power necessarily depends.” Id. at 414, 17 S.Ct. at 843.
In Hammond Packing Co. v. Arkansas, 212 U.S. 322, 29 S.Ct. 370, 53 L.Ed. 530 (1908), the Court upheld a trial court order striking an answer and entering a default for refusal to comply with a court order to produce the books and papers of the company and the requested witnesses. The Court, noting that the mere fact the trial court had acted under statutory authority did not take the case out of the Hovey v. Elliott rule, distinguished Hovey as follows:
“The fundamental guaranty of due process is absolute, and not merely relative. The inherent want of power in a court to do what was done in Hovey v. Elliott was in that case deduced from no especial infirmity of the judicial power to reach the result, but upon the broad conception that such power could not be called into play by any department of the government without transgressing the constitutional safeguard as to due process .... Hovey v. Elliott involved a denial of all right to defend as a mere punishment. This case presents a failure by the defendant to produce what we must assume was material evidence in its possession, and a resulting striking out of an answer and a default. The proceeding here taken may therefore find its sanction in the undoubted right of the lawmaking power to create a presumption of fact as to the bad faith and untruth of an answer to be gotten from the suppression or failure to produce the proof ordered, when such proof concerned the rightful decision of the cause. In a sense, of course, the striking out of the answer and default was a punishment, but it was only remotely so, as the generating source of the power was the right to create a presumption flowing from the failure to produce. The difference between mere punishment, as illustrated in Hovey v. Elliott, and the power exerted in this, is as follows: In the former, due process of law was denied by the refusal to hear. In this, the preservation of due process was secured by the presumption that the refusal to produce evidence material to the administration of due process was but an admission of the want of merit in the asserted defense. The want of power in the one case and its existence in the other are essential to due process, to preserve in the one and to apply and enforce in the other.” Id. at 351-52, 29 S.Ct. at 380-381.
This distinction was approved in Societe Internationale Pour Participations Industrielles et Commerciales, S.A. v. Rogers, 357 U.S. 197, 78 S.Ct. 1087, 2 L.Ed.2d 1255 (1958). In that case the Court held that dismissal of petitioner‘s complaint was improper in that its noncompliance with a pretrial production order was due to inability, and not to willfulness, bad faith or any fault of petitioner. The court noted that the presumption created in Hammond might well falter where the plaintiff, despite good-faith efforts, was unable to comply with a pretrial production order.
Furthermore, the sanctions imposed must be justified in order to enable the opposing party to develop his case, Sierra Life Insurance Co. v. Magic Valley Newspapers, Inc., supra, i.e., the sanction must further the legitimate end of advancing the lawsuit rather than being a mere punishment. As stated in Fields v. Stauffer Publications, Inc., 2 Kan.App.2d 323, 578 P.2d 1138 (1978), “[t]he object of a sanction should be to prevent the party against whom sanctions are being imposed from profiting by his own violation.” Id. at 1143.
In the present case the sanction can only be viewed as a punishment, not intended in any way to advance the adjudicative process, and the presumption of Hammond cannot stand. This lawsuit had been underway for over two years before the default was entered, and Riplinger at no time had delayed or impeded the progress of this suit. He had filed his answer and counterclaim, given his deposition, and answered interrog-
The majority attempts to dispose of Hovey and Societe Internationales by examining the objectives of the underlying orders which the defaulted parties failed to comply with in those cases. The majority concludes that default judgments may not be entered as a sanction for failure to obey orders on issues ancillary to the adjudication on the merits, but may enter a default for failure to obey an order which is “central to the adjudicative process ....” Overcoming an inclination to label this as the pure unsupported sophistry which it is, and assuming that this distinction properly tracks the contours of the due process clause, it is nevertheless apparent that the majority has misapplied the distinction in this case. The order, if order it was, did not require Riplinger to proceed with the case; it merely instructed him to inform the court as to how he would thereafter be proceeding once the next step in the adjudicative process was initiated. At this point in time there remained nothing to be done except setting the case for trial. A litigant‘s choice of attorneys is not “central to the adjudicative process;” it is even more ancillary than the payment of funds at issue in Hovey. The court in this case struck Riplinger‘s entire pleadings and entered judgment against him—because he did not inform the court in the precise rule-dictated legal form as to who his new attorney
IV.
A few final points are necessary regarding the possible prejudice to Sherwood that would result from setting aside the default. First, since the default was entered in violation of due process, any prejudice to Sherwood is irrelevant. Subsequent actions cannot affect the initial unconstitutionality of the default judgment. Second, it was improper for a default judgment to be entered against one of the defendants in this case while the suit was still pending against the other. As stated in 6 Moore‘s Federal Practice § 55.06 (2d ed. 1976), “[i]f the alleged liability is joint a default judgment should not be entered against a defaulting defendant until all of the defendants have defaulted; or if one or more do not default then, as a general proposition, entry of judgment should await an adjudication as to the liability of the nondefaulting defendant(s).” (Footnotes omitted.) As stated in Frow v. De La Vega, 15 Wall. 552, 554, 21 L.Ed. 60 (1872):
“If the court in such a case as this can lawfully make a final decree against one defendant separately, on the merits, while the cause was proceeding undetermined against the others, then this absurdity might follow: there might be one decree of the court sustaining the charge of joint fraud committed by the defendants; and another decree disaffirming the said charge, and declaring it to be entirely unfounded, and dismissing the complainant‘s bill. And such an incongruity, it seems, did actually occur in this case. Such a state of things is unseemly and absurd, as well as unauthorized by law.
“The true mode of proceeding where a bill makes a joint charge against several defendants, and one of them makes default, is simply to enter a default and a formal decree pro confesso against him, and proceed with the cause upon the answers of the other defendants. The defaulting defendant has merely lost his standing in court.... But if the suit should be decided against the complainant on the merits, the bill will be dismissed as to all the defendants alike—the defaulter as well as the others. If it be decided in the complainant‘s favor, he will then be entitled to a final decree against all.”
In the present case, both Kathy and Robert Riplinger had signed the note, and the lawsuit was identical against each. So long as one defendant remained actively in the case, it was error to enter a default judgment against the other. Any prejudice to Sherwood, a self-manufactured result, therefore should not affect a proper determination.
I dissent.
Notes
“DALE G. HIGER, being first duly sworn, on oath, deposes and says:
“That he is one of the attorneys for the Plaintiff above-named, and has personal knowledge of the facts set forth in this affidavit.
“That on the 22nd day of October, 1978, the Court herein filed in this cause an Order Granting Withdrawal.
“That examination of the Court files and records in this cause shows that the Defendant herein was served by certified mail with a copy of the Order on the 31st day of October, 1978.
“That more than twenty (20) days have elapsed since the date on which the Defendant herein was served with the Order, excluding the date of service.
“That this affidavit is executed by Affiant herein in accordance with Rule 55(a) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, for the purposes of enabling the Plaintiff herein to obtain the entry of default against the Defendant herein for failure to answer or otherwise defend as to the Court‘s Order.” (Emphasis added.)
The last paragraph of this affidavit was a misconception. The default could not be sought for failure to answer or defend, but simply for failure to state how he would be thereafter represented—whether by new counsel, or pro se (assuming the validity and applicability of the court‘s unusual rule). Riplinger, having appeared and pleaded was engaged in defending. Moreover, the order had not directed him to do anything.
“The Defendant, ROBERT A. RIPLINGER, having been regularly served with summons and complaint, personally in the State of Idaho, and having failed to file notice stating how said Defendant shall represent himself, the legal time for pleading or otherwise filing said notice having expired, and the Plaintiff having shown by its affidavit of non-military service that the Defendant is not a member of the military forces of the United States of America on active duty, nor an infant, nor incompetent, and the default of the said Defendant having been duly entered herein according to law; upon the application of said Plaintiff, supported by the affidavit of failure to plead or otherwise defend in support of application for entry of default and the affidavit of amount due.
“WHEREFORE, by virtue of the law and by reason of the premises aforesaid,
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Plaintiff, SHERWOOD & ROBERTS, INC., have and recover on its complaint herein from the Defendant, ROBERT A. RIPLINGER, the sum of $11,425.00, together with interest thereon in the sum of $2,704.43, together with costs and disbursements incurred herein in the sum of $545.65, together with attorneys’ fees incurred herein in the sum of $4,000.00, being a total of $18,675.08.
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the counterclaim of Defendant, ROBERT A. RIPLINGER, against the Plaintiff be dismissed with prejudice.” (Emphasis added.)