Watling Ladder Co. v. Aldridge

Tom Glaze, Judge.

This case involves a default judgment entered in favor of appellees and from which appellant Watling Ladder Company (Watling) appeals. Watling raises five issues for reversal, but we believe only two have merit: (1) Whether the answer filed by Watling’s co-defendant, P.C. Hardware, would inure to the benefit of Watling; (2) Whether the answer of Watling was timely filed in view of Rule 4 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure and the circumstances surrounding the commencement of this action. Both of these issues involve questions of first impression in Arkansas.

The first argument urged by Watling is unique because P.C. Hardware filed an untimely answer, but this was admittedly done by agreement between counsel for appellee and for P.C. Hardware. Appellees contend that P.C. Hardware is technically in default, and that the trial court has not, as yet, granted P.C. Hardware’s request to file a late answer as was agreed between the two parties. Appellees argue, therefore, there is no answer filed by P.C. Hardware which can inure to Watling’s benefit.

Watling’s second argument involves a construction of Rule 4, and particularly Rule 4 (i), of the Rules of Civil Procedure, a matter normally deferred to the wisdom of the Supreme Court under Rule 29. Rule 4 and the issue before us have not been considered by the Supreme Court. Since the Supreme Court promulgated our Rules of Civil Procedure, we believe it would be best to give that Court the opportunity to construe Rule 4 in an effort to tell us what Rule 4 (i) means.

At this stage of the proceedings, however, this Court is prompted to render its view on this issue for at least four reasons: (1) The attorneys in this case did an excellent job in presenting our Court with well written briefs and good oral arguments of this issue; (2) This Court, after due study and consideration, has narrowed the issues in this appeal to the two arguments noted above, and the members of our Court have reached a consensus only on the issue concerning Rule 4; (3) There are many other attorneys not connected with this case who must certainly be confused by the language of Rule 4 and would like a clarification; and (4) In our court’s own study of Rule 4 (i), it considered four separate interpretations which could be given the Rule. Thus, we decide this appeal on the singular issue concerning Rule 4 (i), and, in doing so, invite the Supreme Court to consider this matter on review.

The record before us reflects that when appellees filed their action against Watling, a non-resident, they attempted to obtain personal service by certified mail pursuant to Rule 4 (e).¹ Appellees did not request the court clerk to appoint an attorney ad litem when they filed the action. We believe that an ad litem must be appointed under Rule 4 (i) whenever service by mail is used and before a default judgment can be rendered. Rule 4(i) provides:

(i) Default in Case of Service by Mail: Before judgment is rendered against a defendant who is served by mail only or by warning order and who has not appeared, it shall be necessary —

First. An attorney be appointed at least thirty [30] days before the judgment is rendered to defend for the defendant and inform him of the action and of such other matters as may be useful to him in preparing for his defense. He may take any step in the progress of the action, except filing an answer, without it having the effect of entering the appearance of such defendant. The attorney may be appointed by the clerk when a warning order is made, or by the court, and shall receive a reasonable compensation for his services, to be paid by the plaintiff and taxed in the costs. Where service is to be made only by mail, the clerk shall appoint an attorney ad litem upon application of the party or attorney seeking to have such service. [Emphasis supplied.]

When you consider the language in Rule 4 (e) and 4 (i) together, it appears crystal clear that if you choose to obtain personal service by mail on a non-resident, you must have the clerk appoint an attorney ad litem. As is noted above, Rule 4 (i) instructs an attorney "seeking” to have service by mail only to have an attorney ad litem appointed. Rule 12, of course, permits the non-resident defendant to file his answer within thirty days after he is served, i.e., in this case, thirty days after Watling receipted the service by mail on March 3, 1980. If appellees had had an attorney ad litem appointed when the action against Watling was filed, Watling would have been required to file an answer on or before April 3, 1980. If these procedures had been followed, Watling would have been in default upon his failure to file its answer by April 3 and appellees would have been entitled to a default judgment against Watling without further delay. Certainly, this view of what Rule 4 requires is consistent with the thirty day period in which a non-resident defendant is required to answer under Rule 12. This view is also consistent with the provision contained in Rule 4 (i) which in effect requires an attorney ad litem be appointed at least thirty days before a default judgment can be rendered.

This conclusion is also in accordance with prior decisions rendered by our Supreme Court wherein it held that the statutory appointment of an attorney ad litem is mandatory and jurisdictional, and until complied with, the court is without jurisdiction to make any final order. See Frank v. Frank, 175 Ark. 285, 298 S.W. 2d 1026 (1927); and Gaines v. Gaines, 187 Ark. 935, 63 S.W. 2d 333 (1933). In Frank, the court stated, "until the thirty days have expired after the appointment of the attorney ad litem, and he has made his report, the court is without jurisdiction to take affirmative action in the case." The Frank and Gaines cases admittedly involved out-of-state defendants who were constructively, not personally, summoned. The Supreme Court has, however, expressed in these decisions how important it views the appointment of an ad litem before any judgment can be entered. Additionally, the court in Frank and Gaines gives us more than a hint that the period of time in which a non-resident must file an answer does not commence until an ad litem is appointed.

Why would the Supreme Court require an attorney ad litem to be appointed when service by certified mail is used? The ad litem requirement was not required heretofore when service by mail was obtained under our long arm statute. Rather, it was a procedure limited solely to cases where a defendant was constructively summoned.

We have very little difficulty in reaching the conclusion that our Supreme Court intended by Rule 4 (i) to implement a procedure to insure that a defendant is served and receives notice before a judgment is rendered against him. One of the most recurring legal issues with which we have been confronted involves problems related to mail service, i.e., whether a particular legal paper had either been mailed or received by parties involved in litigation. Before a court can obtain jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant, personal service must be had on that defendant, and the method of service required by law must be one which reasonably has a tendency to give actual notice. Service is perfected when a defendant receives the complaint and summons by mail. However, the appointment of an ad litem under Rule 4 (i) merely affords the court additional assurance that personal service has been made on the defendant and that he has a fair opportunity to come in and defend against the action.

Here, of course, an ad litem was not sought by appellees when the action was filed but rather was requested and appointed on April 7, 1980. Thus, all of the requirements of Rule 4 (i) had not been met until thirty-seven days after the suit was filed, and thirty-four days after Watling was first served. This being so, a default judgment could not be rendered against Watling until thirty days had transpired after the date an ad litem was appointed, i.e., May 7, 1980. Since appellee chose to have the ad litem appointed at a time after the action was formally filed and served on Watling, this delay effectively extended the time an additional thirty days in which Watling had to file its answer under Rule 4 (i). Watling filed its answer on April 24, 1980, well within the extended thirty day period. We, therefore, hold that Wat-ling’s answer was timely filed.

We are not unmindful of other arguments which have been advanced concerning Rule 4 and which differ with the one we have expressed above. In reaching the result we did in this cause, we merely attempted to consider all the pertinent rules of our Civil Procedure Code and to give meaning and effect to all the provisions contained in Rule 4.. We respectfully disagree with our friend, Judge Newbern, in his conclusion that since the adoption of Rule 4 (i) the effectiveness of mail service now depends upon whether the defendant chooses to defend.² Quite opposite to this conclusion, we believe the choice substantially remains in the initiative of the plaintiff, and, when mail is used, the time in which a default judgment can be rendered will depend upon when the plaintiff elects to have an ad litem appointed to notify the defendant of the pending action. We cannot agree with any construction of Rule 4 (i) which would permit a non-resident defendant the ability to stifle an Arkansas action by merely ignoring a complaint and summons served by mail and refusing to respond.

We are also aware of at least two other interpretations given Rule 4 (i), viz., (1) that Rule 4 (i) merely readopts Ark. Stat. Ann. § 29-404 (Repl. 1979), (the law applicable to constructively summoning a defendant), but, in addition, the Rule has been extended to permit constructive service by mail as well as by a warning order in in rem actions; and (2) that the ad litem requirement is merely a notice to the defendant, after service is perfected, to come to defend against damages which the plaintiff intends to seek and prove upon the entering of the default judgment. We have rejected these arguments simply because we would be required to insert language into Rule 4 that is just not there.

For the foregoing reasons, we reverse and remand with directions to enter an order consistent with this opinion, finding that Watling’s answer was timely filed.

Reversed and remanded.

Mayfield, C.J., and Cracraft, J., concur.

1 Rule 4 (e) sets forth five methods of service which can be used on out-of-state defendants, and these same methods are identical to those authorized in the Uniform Interstate and International Procedure Act, Ark. Stat. Ann. § 27-2503 (1) (Repl. 1979). Rule 4 (e) provides:

(e) Other Service: Whenever the law of this state authorizes service outside this state, the service, when reasonably calculated to give actual notice, may be made:

(1) By personal delivery in the same manner prescribed for service within this state;

(2) In any manner prescribed by the law of the place in which service is made in that place in an action in any of its courts of general jurisdiction;

(3) By any form of mail addressed to the person to be served and requiring a signed receipt;

(4) As directed by the foreign authority in response to a letter rogatory;

(5) As directed by the Court.

2 See Cox and Newbern, New Civil Procedures: The Court That Came In From The Code, 33 Ark. L. Rev. 1, 17 (1979).