Menard, Inc. v. Reba Lane

FILED
Feb 01 2017, 5:37 am
CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Bruce P. Clark Duke T. Escue
Bruce P. Clark & Associates Walter J. Alvarez
Saint John, Indiana Walter J. Alvarez, P.C.
Crown Point, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Menard, Inc., February 1, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
45A03-1606-CT-1283
v. Appeal from the Lake County
Circuit Court
Reba Lane, The Honorable George Paras,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge;
The Honorable Robert Vann,
Magistrate
Trial Court Cause No.
45C01-1308-CT-128
May, Judge.
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[1] Menard, Inc. (“Menard”) appeals the denial of its motion to set aside the
default judgment entered in favor of Reba Lane when Menard failed to appear
or defend itself against her personal injury suit. As we conclude the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying Menard’s motion to set aside the default
judgment, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On August 29, 2013, Lane filed a personal injury claim against Menard alleging
she suffered injuries as a result of a malfunctioning shopping cart at the Menard
store in Gary, Indiana. On September 16, 2013, Lane sent a summons to
Menard’s former registered agent, CT Corporation. On September 24, 2013,
CT Corporation sent Lane correspondence indicating:
Menard Inc. is inactive on the records of the State of [Indiana].
Our services for this entity have also been discontinued for more
than five (5) years and, as such, we no longer maintain an active
record of this entity. Since we have no address to which to
forward this process, we have not done so.
(App. Vol. II at 68.)
[3] On September 19, 2013, Sergeant Brian Coubal with the Lake County Sheriff’s
Department served the summons at the Menard store in Gary, Indiana. The
summons was addressed to “Attn: Highest Executive Officer Found on
Premises.” (Id. at 10.) Sergeant Coubal also mailed, via certified mail with
return receipt requested, a copy of the summons to the store’s address with the
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same direction to deliver it to the highest executive officer found on the
premises, and Sergeant Coubal received the return receipt. 1
[4] On January 7, 2014, Lane filed a Request for Entry of Default Judgment
because Menard had not answered her complaint. The trial court granted her
request on March 17, 2014, and held a damages hearing on May 15, 2014. On
May 29, 2014, the trial court awarded $500,000.00 in damages to Lane and
entered judgment therefor.
[5] On July 25, 2014, Lane filed a Motion to Enforce Judgment by Proceedings
Supplemental. Lane sent a copy of that motion to the Menard store address in
Gary, Indiana, via regular mail. On August 19, 2014, counsel for Menard
entered an appearance and filed a motion to set aside default judgment, arguing
the default judgment was void under Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(6) for lack of
personal jurisdiction based on several alleged defects in service; was “tainted”
by attorney misconduct under Trial Rule 60(B)(3) and the Indiana Rules of
Professional Conduct; and was a product of excusable neglect under Trial Rule
60(B)(1). (App. Vol. II at 25.)
1
The Chronological Case Summary indicates the summons and complaint were delivered to the local
Menard store via certified mail on September 24, 2016. Under “Comment” the court noted, “Signature
Illegible.” (App. Vol. II at 9.)
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[6] The parties filed reply and supplemental briefs for almost a year. The trial court
held oral argument on the matter on June 4, 2015. On May 6, 2016, the trial
court denied Menard’s motion to set aside default judgment.
Discussion and Decision
[7] A default judgment “is an extreme remedy and is available only where that
party fails to defend or prosecute a suit.” Smith v. Johnston, 711 N.E.2d 1259,
1264 (Ind. 1999). “A judgment by default which has been entered may be set
aside by the court for the grounds and in accordance with the provisions of
[Trial Rule] 60(B).” Ind. Trial Rule 55(C). “In general, we review a trial
court’s denial of a motion to set aside judgment for an abuse of discretion, and
in so doing, determine whether the trial court’s judgment is clearly against the
logic and effect of the facts and inferences supporting the judgment.” LePore v.
Norwest Bank Indiana, N.A., 860 N.E.2d 632, 634 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
Service of Process
[8] Trial Rule 60(B)(6) allows for relief from a default judgment if a judgment is
void. Our standard of review regarding the trial court’s decision on a Trial Rule
60(B)(6) motion is well-settled:
[A] trial court has no discretion on how to rule on a Trial Rule
60(B)(6) motion once a judgment is determined to be either void
or valid. If a judgment is void, the trial court cannot enforce it
and the motion under 60(B)(6) must be granted; if a judgment is
valid, the trial court cannot declare it void and the motion must
be denied.
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Anderson v. Wayne Post 64, 4 N.E.3d 1200, 1205 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014), trans.
denied. One reason a judgment may be void is for inadequate service on a
defendant. Id. at 1206.
[9] The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution “requires that in
order for constructive notice of a lawsuit to be sufficient, a party must exercise
due diligence in attempting to locate a litigant’s whereabouts.” Munster v. Groce,
829 N.E.2d 52, 60 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). A party must provide “notice
reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties
of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their
objections.” Id. (quoting Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S.
306, 314 (1950)). “No summons or the service thereof shall be set aside or be
adjudged insufficient when either is reasonably calculated to inform the person
to be served that an action has been instituted against him, the name of the
court, and the time within which he is required to respond.” Ind. Tr. R.
4.15(F).
[10] Trial Rule 4.6(A)(1) states, in relevant part, 2 “Service upon an organization
may be made as follows: (1) In the case of a domestic or foreign organization
upon an executive officer thereof[.]” The “executive officer” of a domestic or
foreign organization includes
2
The other portions of Trial Rule 4.6(A) concern service to other types of businesses and governmental
entities.
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the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, cashier,
director, chairman of the board of directors or trustees, office
manager, plant manager, or subdivision manager, partner, or
majority shareholder. For purposes of service of process, notice
and other papers, the term includes the personal secretary of any
of the foregoing persons or any person employed under or with
any of the foregoing persons and who is entrusted with
responsible handling of legal papers, and any person employed in
the organization if such person promptly delivers the papers
served to one of the foregoing.
T.R. 83(2).
[11] Service upon an organization under Trial Rule 4.6(A) “shall be made on the
proper person in the manner provided by these rules for service upon
individuals[.]” T.R. 4.6(B). Service upon an individual may be completed by:
(1) sending a copy of the summons and complaint by registered
or certified mail or other public means by which a written
acknowledgment of receipt may be requested and obtained to his
residence, place of business or employment with return receipt
requested and returned showing receipt of the letter; or
(2) delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to him
personally; or
(3) leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at his dwelling
house or usual place of abode; or
(4) serving his agent as provided by rule, statute or valid
agreement.
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T.R. 4.1(A). Further, when a person other than the individual who is
authorized to receive service of process accepts service, that person is
under a duty to:
(1) promptly deliver the papers to that person;
(2) promptly notify that person that he holds the papers for him;
or
(3) within a reasonable time, in writing notify the clerk or person
making the service that he has been unable to make such delivery
of notice when such is the case.
T.R. 4.16(B).
[12] Here, Lane served Menard at their local store via process server Sergeant
Coubal. Sergeant Coubal stated in his deposition he had been a process server
for approximately six years and had served hundreds of subpoenas. He stated
in his affidavit, when serving business entities, “it is my usual and customary
practice as a process server to personally hand deliver the summons,
complaints, and all other attached legal documents upon the appropriate
and/or designated employees of said businesses, corporations or other
organizations; specifically, the manager and/or highest executive officer
found.” (App. Vol. II at 151.) The summons designated as evidence included a
stamp signed by Sergeant Coubal certifying he served the summons on
September 18, 2013. Sergeant Coubal also indicated he sent the summons via
certified mail and received a signed return receipt. Both the summons Sergeant
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Coubal delivered and the summons sent certified mail were addressed to “Attn:
Highest Executive Officer Found on Premises.” (Id. at 10.)
[13] Menard claims it did not receive the summons delivered by Sergeant Coubal or
the summons sent by Sergeant Coubal via certified mail. Menard argues
Sergeant Coubal’s service of process was not reasonably calculated to reach the
highest executive officer found on the Menard premises because, via affidavit,
fourteen Menard employees indicated they had not received the summons and
that non-managerial staff “were not authorized, entrusted, or expected to accept
legal papers on behalf of Menard and were not instructed, taught, trained or
otherwise made aware on how to handle lawsuits if served by the sheriff or
process server.” (App. Vol. III at 229.) In addition, Menard points to Sergeant
Coubal’s affidavit in which he stated:
That although I do not have an independent recollection or
memory of the specific individuals(s) upon whom I would have
personally hand delivered the summons, complaint, and other
legal documents at issue to: [sic] I did personally hand deliver the
summons, complaint, and other legal documents to the
appropriate and/or designated employee(s), namely the manager
or highest executive officer found, at the Menard store[.]
(App. Vol. II at 152.)
[14] In support of their argument Sergeant Coubal’s service of process was
inadequate despite the stamp indicating he delivered the summons to the
Menard’s store and sent a copy of the same via certified mail for which he
received a return receipt, Menard relies primarily on Swiggett Lumber Const. Co.,
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Inc. v. Quandt, in which our court held Swiggett’s request for relief from
judgment was appropriate because Hall, Swiggett’s registered agent, had not
been properly served the summons and complaint. 806 N.E.2d 334, 337 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2004). Menard focuses on the facts surrounding the personal service
of a Swiggett employee:
Quandt contends that copy service at the business to an
unidentified employee of Swiggett, who represented that he
understood the nature of the summons and agreed to deliver the
documents to Hall, constituted service reasonably calculated to
inform Hall that an action had been instituted against Swiggett.
We cannot agree.
Id.[15] However, this narrow reading of Swiggett ignores the complete holding of the
case, as we concluded service to Swiggett was inadequate because Quandt did
not comply with all of the requirements of Trial Rule 4.1(B), which requires
“the person making such service ‘shall’ mail a copy of the summons to the
defendant’s last known address.” Id. (quoting T.R. 4.1(B)). While our court
highlighted “the rules do not contemplate that an unidentified employee of
unknown position within a corporation is authorized to accept service of
process for the corporation’s registered agent[,]” id. at 338, it noted Swiggett
was distinct from Washington v. Allison, 593 N.E.2d 1273, 1276 (Ind. Ct. App.
1992), in which “copy service was followed by mailing a copy of the summons
to the defendant in an attempt to comply with [Trial Rule] 4.1(B).” Swiggett,
806 N.E.2d at 338 n.4.
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[16] In Washington, like in the case before us, copies of the summons and complaint
were served personally at the defendant’s office and via mail as required by
Trail Rule 4.1(B). 593 N.E.2d at 1276. “Service of process that is reasonably
calculated to inform, consistent with the letter of Trial Rule 4.15(F), is
sufficient even if it fails to actually inform the party to which it is directed.”
Swaim v. Moltan Co., 73 F.3d 711, 721 (7th Cir. 1996), cert. denied sub nom Gurley
v. Swaim, 517 U.S. 1244 (1996). Sergeant Coubal followed the letter of Trial
Rule 4.1(B) as evidenced by the copy of the summons with the stamp indicating
he delivered the summons and complaint, and the return receipt for the copy of
the summons and complaint sent by certified mail; thus, we cannot say the trial
court abused its discretion when it denied Menard’s motion to set aside default
judgment based on the adequacy of Lane’s service of process. 3
Notification of Attorney
[17] Under Trial Rule 60(B)(3), “the court may relieve a party . . . [from] a judgment
by default” when that party demonstrates “(3) fraud (whether heretofore
denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of
3
Menard also argues service was inadequate because Lane completed service by mail to the wrong registered
agent and should have done further research to determine the correct registered agent to send service to.
Menard designated a copy of the Secretary of State’s page for the correct registered agent, as well as the
information about Menard’s registered agent in its home state of Wisconsin. However, as Lane served the
summons and complaint on the local office of the corporation pursuant to the requirements of Trial Rule
4.6(A)(1), she was not required to serve the registered agent. See T.R. 4.6(A)(1) (“In the case of a domestic or
foreign organization upon an executive officer thereof, or if there is an agent appointed or deemed by law to
have been appointed to receive service, then upon such agent.”) (emphasis added); see also Volunteers of
America v. Premier Auto Acceptance Corp., 755 N.E.2d 656, 659 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (“service upon the local
office of an organization is effective service upon the organization”).
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an adverse party.” Menard alleged misconduct by Lane’s attorney in its
memorandum in support of its motion to set aside the default judgment:
“despite having litigated cases against Menard in this area in the past, plaintiff’s
counsel made no attempt to contact Menard or the firms that commonly
represent it and which have worked with plaintiff’s counsel in the past,
regarding the Motion for Default Judgment.” (App. Vol. II at 36.) In support
of that contention, Menard designated two affidavits from two attorneys from
two different firms who had represented Menard in the past in actions brought
by the law firm representing Lane.
[18] Menard likens the facts here to those in Smith, 711 N.E.2d at 1264, wherein our
Indiana Supreme Court held service was inadequate because the plaintiff,
Johnston, did not serve the summons and complaint on Smith’s attorney. In
that case, Johnston filed a medical malpractice complaint against Smith before
the Indiana Department of Insurance. Id. at 1261. After the Indiana
Department of Insurance panel found in favor of Johnston, his counsel sent
Smith’s counsel a letter with a settlement offer. Smith’s counsel, Locke
Reynolds Boyd & Weisell (“Locke Reynolds”), rejected Johnston’s settlement
offer via letter shortly before Johnston filed suit against Smith.
[19] The complaint was served on Smith at his place of business by certified mail
and a scrub nurse signed for the summons. Smith did not file an appearance or
answer in the action, and approximately six weeks after filing his complaint,
Johnston moved for default judgment. The trial court entered default judgment
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in favor of Johnston and ordered damages in the amount of $750,000 plus costs
of $2,407.
[20] Six days after the trial court’s order, Smith’s attorney from Locke Reynolds
filed an appearance and a notice of intent to file a motion to set aside the
default judgment. Smith subsequently filed a motion to set aside default
judgment, alleging excusable neglect under Trial Rule 60(B)(1) and attorney
misconduct under Trial Rule 60(B)(3). The trial court denied Smith’s motion.
[21] On appeal, Smith argued the failure of Johnston’s attorney, Neiswinger, to
provide a copy of the complaint or summons to Locke Reynolds when
Neiswinger knew Locke Reynolds represented Smith “was misconduct
warranting relief from the default judgment.” Id. at 1262. Johnston argued
Neiswinger did not have a duty under the Trial Rules to provide a copy of the
complaint or summons to Smith’s attorney, only to Smith, because he was the
party. Our Indiana Supreme Court explained, citing the Indiana Rules of
Professional Responsibility:
The Rules are guidelines for lawyers and do not spell out every
duty a lawyer owes to clients, the court, other members of the bar
and the public. The preamble to the Rules is clear that “[t]he
Rules, do not, however, exhaust the moral and ethical
considerations that should inform a lawyer, for no worthwhile
human activity can be completely defined by legal rules.” Thus
lawyers’ duties are found not only in the specific rules of conduct
and rules of procedure, but also in courtesy, common sense and
the constraints of our judicial system. As an officer of the Court,
every lawyer must avoid compromising the integrity of his or her
own reputation and that of the legal process itself. These
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considerations alone demand that Neiswinger take the relatively
simple step of placing a phone call to Locke Reynolds before
seeking a default judgment.
In addition, [Indiana Professional Responsibility] Rule 8.4(d)
explicitly states that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of
justice. The administration of justice requires that parties and
their known lawyers be given notice of a lawsuit prior to seeking
a default judgment. A default judgment is appropriate only
where a party has not appeared in person or by counsel and, if
there is a lawyer known to represent the opposing party in the
matter, counsel had made reasonable effort to contact that
lawyer.
Id. at 1263-4 (internal citations omitted). The Court further noted Neiswinger’s
misconduct implicated “overriding considerations of confidence in our judicial
system and the interest of resolving disputes on their merits.” Id. at 1261-62.
[22] However, Smith is distinguishable. In this case, Menard indicated in its
memorandum in support of its motion to set aside the default judgment,
“despite having litigated cases against Menard in this area in the past, plaintiff’s
counsel made no attempt to contact Menard or the firms that commonly
represent it and which have worked with plaintiff’s counsel in the past,
regarding the Motion for Default Judgment.” (App. Vol. II at 36.) In support
of that contention, Menard designated two affidavits from two attorneys from
two different firms who had represented Menard in the past in actions brought
forth by the law firm representing Lane.
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[23] In Smith, Locke Reynolds represented Smith in legal proceedings directly
related to the complaint filed by Johnston. The parties, facts, and attorneys
were the same throughout. Here, there were at least two law firms that had
represented Menard in the past, and neither indicated it was involved in
litigation surrounding this particular incident. We cannot agree with Menard
that Lane’s counsel was under a duty to notify multiple law firms of this
litigation simply because Lane’s counsel knew those firms had represented
Menard in other unrelated litigation. The trial court did not abuse its discretion
when it denied Menard’s motion for relief of judgment based on alleged
misconduct by Lane’s attorney.
Excusable Neglect
[24] Under Trial Rule 60(B)(1), a default judgment may be set aside for “mistake,
surprise, or excusable neglect.” There are no fixed standards “to determine the
bounds of ‘mistake, surprise or excusable neglect.’” Indiana Dept. of Nat. Res. v.
Van Keppel, 583 N.E.2d 161, 162 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991), trans. denied. Menard
argues the trial court abused its discretion when it denied its motion to set aside
default judgment because there existed excusable neglect. Menard contends,
“assuming that service had been perfected on an unidentified employee of
Menard, there must have been some issue with communicating that fact to the
appropriate individual.” (Br. of Appellant at 24.)
[25] In support of their argument, Menard cites Nw. Nat. Ins. Co. v. Mapps, 717
N.E.2d 947, 956 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999), and Smith, 711 N.E.2d at 1262.
However, those cases actually support the premise a breakdown in
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communication is not excusable neglect. In Mapps, our court concluded it was
not excusable neglect when Northwestern did not file an answer to Mapps’
complaint because the regional manager had notice of the claim and was
responsible for ensuring Northwestern’s interests were protected after the agent
assigned the case was terminated and the office closed. 717 N.E.2d at 956. In
Smith, our Indiana Supreme Court stated it was “neglect, but not excusable
neglect,” 711 N.E.2d at 1262, when Smith “was aware that the person who had
normally received the mail was no longer doing so and had simply failed to
read his mail.” Mapps, 717 N.E.2d at 956.
[26] Here, we have concluded Menard received service of process via personal
delivery to the local Menard store and via certified mail to that store. The
subsequent location of the summons and complaint is irrelevant and can be
attributed to neglect, though not excusable neglect, by the Menard employee(s)
who received the information and did not pass it to the appropriate person or
act upon it. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Menard’s
motion for relief from judgment based on excusable neglect.
Conclusion
[27] Lane attempted service of her complaint and summons in multiple ways, all of
which conformed with the requirements of the Indiana Trial Rules.
Additionally, Lane’s attorney did not engage in misconduct when she did not
notify the two law firms who had represented Menard in the past. Finally, the
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breakdown in communication between Menard employees regarding the
summons and complaint was not excusable neglect. Accordingly, we affirm.
[28] Affirmed.
Kirsch, J., and Crone, J., concur.
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