Gregory Thomaston v. U.S. Bank National Association (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Jun 24 2019, 7:05 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Preeti (Nita) Gupta Dustin R. DeNeal
Indianapolis, Indiana Carl A. Greci
Louis T. Perry
Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Gregory Thomaston, June 24, 2019
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-MF-2397
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
U.S. Bank National Association, The Honorable Burnett Caudill,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Jr., Judge Pro Tem
Trial Court Cause No.
49D01-1607-MF-23685
Mathias, Judge.
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[1] Gregory Thomaston (“Thomaston”) appeals the Marion Superior Court’s
denial of his Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment. Concluding that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) filed a foreclosure complaint
against Thomaston on June 23, 2016. On September 12, 2016, U.S. Bank filed a
motion for default. Also on September 12, 2016, Thomaston signed a filing
requesting a settlement conference. This request for a settlement conference was
not filed until September 19, 2016. In the interim, on September 16, 2016, the
trial court granted U.S. Bank’s motion for default judgment. A docket entry
from October 6, 2016, reads “[n]o action taken on the Request for Settlement
Conference as default judgment has been entered. Either party may file a
Motion to Set Aside the Judgment.” Appellant’s App. p. 4. Between this entry
and January 15, 2018, U.S. Bank filed three praecipes for sheriff sales. No other
action in the matter was taken during this time period.
[3] Over a year after default judgment was entered, on January 15, 2018,
Thomaston filed a Motion to Set Aside the Default Judgment. U.S. Bank filed
its response the very next day. After several continuances so the parties could
engage in settlement negotiations, and a dispute over whether Thomaston could
conduct discovery, a hearing on the motion to set aside the judgment was held
on September 13, 2018. The trial court entered an order denying the motion on
the same day. Thomaston now appeals.
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Discussion and Decision
[4] “The decision of whether to set aside a default judgment is committed to the
sound discretion of the trial court.” Whitt v. Farmer’s Mutual Relief Ass’n, 815
N.E.2d 537, 539 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (citing Tardy v. Chumrley, 658 N.E.2d
959, 961 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied). Our review is limited to
determining whether the trial court has abused its discretion. Id. “An abuse of
discretion occurs if the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts
and circumstances before the court, or the reasonable, probable, and actual
deductions to be drawn therefrom.” McElfresh v. State, 51 N.E.3d 103, 107 (Ind.
2016). We do not reweigh the evidence. Gipson v. Gipson, 644 N.E.2d 876, 877
(Ind. 1994).
[5] Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(8) allows for a judgment to be set aside “for any
reason justifying relief from operation of the judgment[.]” Any claim filed
pursuant to T.R. 60(B)(8) must be filed within a reasonable period of time after
the judgment is entered. Fairrow v. Fairrow, 559 N.E.2d 597 (Ind. 1990). The
determination of reasonableness, however, varies with the circumstances of
each case. Gipson, 644 N.E.2d at 877. “Relevant to the question of timeliness is
prejudice to the party opposing the motion and the basis for the moving party’s
delay.” Id. A motion for relief from judgment filed pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule
60(B)(8) must also allege a meritorious defense. T.R. 60(B).
[6] Thomaston specifically argues that he had a meritorious defense, namely, that
his request for a settlement conference was not honored. He also alleges the
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motion to set aside default judgment was not filed earlier because the parties
were engaging in settlement negotiations. U.S. Bank counters, among related
arguments, that Thomaston did not file the motion for relief from judgment
within a reasonable time and that Thomaston did not allege a meritorious claim
or defense. Appellee’s Br. at 7. We address each issue in turn.
I. Meritorious Defense
[7] To establish a meritorious defense for the purposes of Trial Rule 60(B), the
moving party must show that a different result would be reached if the case was
decided on the merits. Vanjani v. Federal Land Bank of Louisville, 451 N.E.2d 667,
672 (Ind. Ct. App. 1983). The party seeking to set aside a default judgment
must make a “prima facie showing of a good and meritorious defense.” Id. at
671.
[8] On appeal, Thomaston argues that his request for settlement conference should
have been granted pursuant to Indiana Code section 32-30-10.5-10. However,
because he did not request the settlement conference within thirty days of
service of the complaint, he cannot show that he was entitled to the requested
settlement conference. Ind. Code § 32-30-10.5-9(a)(2)(A). Accordingly,
Thomaston has not made a prima facie showing of a meritorious defense.
II. Timeliness
[9] What constitutes a reasonable period of time, for the purposes of a motion to
set aside judgment, is dependent upon the circumstances of the case, and the
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burden is on the moving party to show that relief is both necessary and just. In
re Adoption of T.L.W., 835 N.E.2d 598, 601 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
[10] Here, the request for settlement conference was filed after the trial court had
entered default judgment. The trial court, by CCS entry dated October 6, 2018,
directed Appellant to the proper procedure for the request for a settlement
conference to be heard at that time. Thomaston, however, did not take that
action until approximately fifteen months later. Appellant, having provided no
reason for the delay in the request to set aside the default judgment, has not
shown that the request was filed in a timely manner.
Conclusion
[11] Thomaston has not made a prima facie showing of a meritorious defense. Nor
did he file his motion for relief from judgment within a reasonable time.
Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying the motion for relief from judgment.
[12] Affirmed.
Vaidik, C.J., and Crone, J., concur.
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