Case Title: Simmons v. DuBose Construction Company, L.L.C.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1110239

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2012-03-16T00:00:00Z

Document:
REL: 03/16/2012 
Notice: T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 
1110239 
Ex p a r t e DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n Company, L.L.C. 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
( I n r e : 
James Simmons 
v. 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n Company, L.L.C.) 
(Montgomery C i r c u i t Court, CV-05-2166; 
Court o f C i v i l Appeals, 2110005) 
STUART, 
J u s t i c e . 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n Company, L.L.C., p e t i t i o n s t h i s C o u r t 
f o r a w r i t o f 
mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e 
C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s t o 
1110239 
v a c a t e 
i t s o r d e r 
i s s u e d 
on November 
8, 
2011, 
d i r e c t i n g 
t h e 
M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o 
i s s u e 
a 
r u l i n g 
on 
t h e 
remand 
o r d e r e d 
i n DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n Co. v. Simmons, 989 
So. 2d 
1140 
( A l a . 
C i v . App. 
2 0 0 8 ) , w i t h i n 28 d a y s . 
We d e n y t h e 
p e t i t i o n . 
I . 
On 
F e b r u a r y 
14, 
2005, 
James 
Simmons, 
an 
e m p l o y e e 
o f 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n , 
s u s t a i n e d a m e d i a l m e n i s c u s t e a r i n h i s 
r i g h t k n e e when he s l i p p e d and 
f e l l i n a h o l e w h i l e w o r k i n g a t 
a 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
s i t e . 
On 
A p r i l 
18, 
2005, Simmons u n d e r w e n t 
s u r g e r y 
t o 
r e p a i r t h e 
t e a r ; h o w e v e r , b e c a u s e 
o f p e r s i s t e n t 
p a i n and s w e l l i n g , a s e c o n d s u r g e r y was 
r e q u i r e d on J a n u a r y 
9, 
2006. 
Simmons 
r e t u r n e d 
t o w o r k 
a t DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
on 
M a r c h 
1, 
2006, 
b u t 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
r e s i g n e d 
on 
May 
24, 
2006, 
s t a t i n g t h a t t h e 
i n j u r y t o h i s k n e e had 
a f f e c t e d o t h e r 
p a r t s 
o f 
h i s b o d y 
and 
t h a t 
he 
c o u l d 
no 
l o n g e r 
p e r f o r m 
p h y s i c a l 
l a b o r . 
On A u g u s t 23, 2005, Simmons s u e d DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n 
i n 
t h e M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
s e e k i n g 
w o r k e r s ' 
c o m p e n s a t i o n 
b e n e f i t s f o r h i s k n e e i n j u r y . 
F o l l o w i n g a p r o c e e d i n g 
a t w h i c h 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
h e a r d 
o r e 
t e n u s 
e v i d e n c e , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d a j u d g m e n t on M a r c h 13, 2007, f i n d i n g t h a t Simmons 
had 
2 
1110239 
s u f f e r e d a p e r m a n e n t p a r t i a l 
d i s a b i l i t y t o t h e 
b o d y as a w h o l e 
and a 1 5 % p e r m a n e n t 
p a r t i a l 
l o s s o f h i s a b i l i t y t o e a r n a n d 
a w a r d i n g 
b e n e f i t s 
a c c o r d i n g l y . 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
a p p e a l e d 
t h a t 
j u d g m e n t t o t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t h a d e r r e d i n a w a r d i n g 
Simmons b e n e f i t s b a s e d on a l o s s o f e a r n i n g 
c a p a c i t y 
b e c a u s e , 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
a r g u e d , Simmons was l i m i t e d t o r e c e i v i n g 
t h e 
l e s s e r b e n e f i t s a l l o w e d f o r 
t h e l o s s o f u s e o f a l e g s e t 
f o r t h i n 
t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n 
s c h e d u l e i n 
§ 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) , A l a . Code 
1975. 
I n i t s o p i n i o n , 
t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
r e c o g n i z e d 
t h a t t h e g e n e r a l 
p r o p o s i t i o n a d v o c a t e d b y DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
was c o r r e c t -- t h a t c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r 
i n j u r i e s r e s u l t i n g i n t h e 
l o s s o f u s e o f a member o f t h e b o d y 
s h o u l d 
be a w a r d e d i n 
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e s c h e d u l e s e t f o r t h i n 
§ 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) -- b u t 
a l s o n o t e d 
t h a t 
t h i s 
C o u r t h a d e s t a b l i s h e d an e x c e p t i o n t o 
t h a t 
r u l e i n B e l l v . D r i s k i l l , 
282 A l a . 640, 213 So. 2d 806 
( 1 9 6 8 ) , 
l a t e r 
m o d i f i e d 
i n Ex p a r t e Drummond Co., 837 So. 2d 
831 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) , 
" a l l o w i n g an u n s c h e d u l e d a w a r d f o r 
an i n j u r y 
o f s u c h s e v e r i t y t h a t i t 
i m p a c t s t h e c l a i m a n t ' s 
e n t i r e b o d y . " 
Ex p a r t e A d d i s o n F a b r i c a t o r s , I n c . , 989 So. 2d 498, 503 ( A l a . 
3 
1110239 
2 0 0 7 ) . 
The C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s u l t i m a t e l y c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
i t was u n a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h a t e x c e p t i o n s h o u l d 
a p p l y 
t o Simmons, h o w e v e r , b e c a u s e " [ t ] h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d 
n o t make 
f i n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g w h e t h e r Simmons's i n j u r y 
e n t i t l e d h i m t o 
c o m p e n s a t i o n o u t s i d e t h e s c h e d u l e . " 
989 So. 2d a t 1143. The 
c o u r t 
f u r t h e r e x p l a i n e d 
t h a t i t 
was r e q u i r e d t o remand t h e 
c a u s e t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t f o r t h a t 
c o u r t t o make 
s p e c i f i c 
f i n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g t h e e x t e n t o f Simmons's i n j u r y , 
s t a t i n g : 
" I n W a l - M a r t S t o r e s , I n c . v . G a r d n e r , 885 So. 2d 
168 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 3 ) , 
t h i s 
c o u r t r e v e r s e d t h e 
j u d g m e n t o f a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a w a r d i n g 
t h e e m p l o y e e 
w o r k e r s ' 
c o m p e n s a t i o n b e n e f i t s w i t h o u t 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s e t t i n g 
f o r t h 
i t s r e a s o n 
f o r a w a r d i n g 
b e n e f i t s 
o u t s i d e t h e s c h e d u l e , 
s t a t i n g : 
no 
"'The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t 
c o n t a i n s 
m e n t i o n 
o f t h e s o - c a l l e d 
" B e l l 
[ v .  
D r i s k i l l , 
282 A l a . 640, 213 So. 2d 806 
( 1 9 6 8 ) , ] 
t e s t " o r t h e r u l e 
a r t i c u l a t e d b y 
o u r 
Supreme C o u r t 
i n [Ex p a r t e ] 
Drummond 
 
Co., 
[837 So. 2d 831 ( A l a . 2 0 0 2 ) ] ; t h e r e i s 
no 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
o f t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f 
t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f § 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) ( 3 ) a . 
and d. 
I t i s n o t t h e r o l e o f t h i s 
c o u r t t o make 
t h e f i n d i n g s c o n t e m p l a t e d 
b y Drummond Co., 
o r b y t h o s e 
s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s ; t h a t i s 
t h e 
t a s k o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t . 
Ex 
p a r t e  
R.T.S., 771 So. 2d 475, 477 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . ' 
"885 
So. 
2d 
a t 
172. 
S i m i l a r l y , 
i n 
A d d i s o n 
F a b r i c a t o r s , 
I n c . v . D a v i s , 
8 
92 So. 2d 440 
( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 4 ) , t h i s c o u r t , r e l y i n g on o u r d e c i s i o n 
i n 
W a l - M a r t , 
s u p r a , 
r e v e r s e d 
t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
b a s e d 
on 
i t s f a i l u r e 
t o make 
a 
4 
1110239 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
as 
t o 
t h e 
a p p l i c a b i l i t y 
o f 
§ 
2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) ( 3 ) a . 
and d. 
I n so h o l d i n g , 
t h i s 
c o u r t 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t t h e ' " [ t ] h e 
t r i a l 
j u d g e s h o u l d make 
a 
f i n d i n g o f e v e r y 
f a c t 
n e c e s s a r y 
t o s u s t a i n t h e 
j u d g m e n t o f t h e c o u r t . " ' 
892 So. 2d a t 443 
( q u o t i n g 
U n i t e d 
T e l . & T e l . 
Co. v. C u l i v e r , 
271 A l a . 
568 
, 
570, 
126 So. 2d 119, 120-21 
( 1 9 6 1 ) ) . 
" G i v e n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
make 
f i n d i n g s 
c o n c e r n i n g 
w h e t h e r 
Simmons's 
i n j u r y 
e n t i t l e d 
h i m t o 
w o r k e r s ' 
c o m p e n s a t i o n 
b e n e f i t s 
o u t s i d e t h e s c h e d u l e , 
we must r e v e r s e t h e j u d g m e n t 
o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
and remand t h e c a u s e f o r 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a j u d g m e n t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n . " 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n , 989 So. 2d a t 1143. 
The 
c a s e t h u s r e t u r n e d t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t w h e r e , on J u n e 
17, 2008, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
f o u r months a f t e r t h e r e l e a s e o f 
t h e 
C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
o p i n i o n , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d an 
o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g t h e c a s e . 
The o r d e r s t a t e d i n i t s e n t i r e t y : 
"The 
c o u r t h a v i n g 
r e v i e w e d 
t h i s c a s e and d e t e r m i n i n g 
t h a t t h e 
c a s e a p p e a r s c o n c l u d e d , 
t h e c o u r t i s 
o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t 
t h i s 
m a t t e r s h o u l d be d i s m i s s e d . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , i t i s 
h e r e b y 
o r d e r e d 
t h a t t h i s m a t t e r i s d i s m i s s e d . " 
T h r e e d a y s l a t e r , on J u n e 20, 
2008, Simmons moved t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o s e t a s i d e i t s o r d e r o f 
d i s m i s s a l , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t " t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , 
i n i t s 
o p i n i o n , 
r e v e r s e d and remanded t h e above c a s e f o r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' t o 
make f i n d i n g s w h e t h e r Simmons's i n j u r y e n t i t l e d h i m 
5 
1110239 
t o 
w o r k e r s ' 
c o m p e n s a t i o n 
b e n e f i t s 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
s c h e d u l e . ' " 
Simmons's 
m o t i o n 
was 
c o n s i d e r e d 
by 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a t 
a 
h e a r i n g 
on A u g u s t 25, 2008, a t w h i c h t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t had 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g e x c h a n g e w i t h t h e a t t o r n e y s 
f o r Simmons and 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n : 
" [ A t t o r n e y 
f o r DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ] : 
One 
t h i n g 
you 
do 
n e e d 
t o 
do 
-- 
I'm 
n o t 
s u r e 
how 
t h i s 
h a p p e n e d . 
A f t e r 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
[ C i v i l ] 
A p p e a l s 
e n t e r e d 
i t s 
o r d e r , 
i t came b a c k h e r e and 
t h e c a s e has 
a c t u a l l y 
b e e n 
d i s m i s s e d . 
" [ C o u r t ] : 
Who 
d i s m i s s e d i t ? 
" [ A t t o r n e y 
f o r S i m m o n s ] : 
You 
d i d . 
And 
I 
f i l e d 
a 
m o t i o n 
--
" [ A t t o r n e y 
f o r DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ] : 
The 
c a s e 
has 
b e e n 
d i s m i s s e d . 
My 
w o r r y 
i s i f i t ' s a 
[ w o r k e r s ' 
c o m p e n s a t i o n ] 
c a s e , 
t h e r e 
has 
t o be 
an 
o r d e r . 
We 
n e e d 
--
" [ C o u r t ] : 
I'm 
g o i n g 
t o 
s e t 
a s i d e 
t h a t . 
Do 
me 
an 
o r d e r 
r i g h t now 
s e t t i n g t h a t 
a s i d e . 
" [ A t t o r n e y 
f o r DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n ] : 
I f 
you 
s e t 
a s i d e an o r d e r 
--
" [ C o u r t ] : 
S e t 
a s i d e 
t h e 
o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g t h e 
c a s e 
and 
r e i n s t a t e and 
p u t 
[ t h e 
m e d i a t o r ] 
i n t h e r e 
t o 
m e d i a t e 
i t . " 
However, i t a p p e a r s t h a t no 
w r i t t e n o r d e r 
s e t t i n g 
a s i d e 
t h e 
o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g 
t h e 
c a s e 
was 
e v e r 
p r e p a r e d , 
and, 
i n 
any 
e v e n t , 
an 
o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
was 
n e v e r 
e n t e r e d 
i n t o 
t h e 
6 
1110239 
r e c o r d . 
P u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 
5 9 . 1 , 
A l a . R. 
C i v . P., 
Simmons's 
m o t i o n t o s e t a s i d e t h e J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l 
was 
a c c o r d i n g l y d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w on S e p t e m b e r 18, 2 0 0 8 .
1 
See Ex p a r t e C h a m b l e e , 899 
So. 2d 244, 
248 
( A l a . 2004) 
("We 
t a k e 
t h i s 
o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e a f f i r m 
t h a t f o r p u r p o s e s 
o f R u l e 
59.1 a t r i a l j u d g e ' d i s p o s e s o f ' a p e n d i n g p o s t j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n 
o n l y by p r o p e r l y e n t e r i n g a r u l i n g e i t h e r d e n y i n g o r g r a n t i n g 
t h e 
m o t i o n . 
Ex p a r t e J o h n s o n 
L a n d Co., 
[561 So. 2d 506, 
508 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 0 ) ] . 
R u l e 59.1 must be r e a d i n c o n j u n c t i o n and i n 
harmony w i t h R u l e 58, 
[ A l a . R. C i v . P.,] 
w h i c h s i m p l y d o e s n o t 
r e c o g n i z e an o r a l r e n d i t i o n o f a j u d g m e n t o r o r d e r o r an 
o r a l 
e n t r y o f a j u d g m e n t o r 
o r d e r . " ) . 
On November 12, 2009, Simmons f i l e d a m o t i o n i n t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s s e e k i n g t o c o m p e l t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a 
j u d g m e n t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s ' r u l i n g i n 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
I n t h a t m o t i o n , Simmons a s s e r t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t had 
h e l d 
h e a r i n g s on 
t h i s 
c a s e 
on J u n e 
4, 
1 A t t h e t i m e p e r t i n e n t t o t h i s a c t i o n , R u l e 59.1 p r o v i d e d 
t h a t " [ a ] f a i l u r e by t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o d i s p o s e o f any p e n d i n g 
p o s t - j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
[ 9 0 - d a y 
p e r i o d ] p e r m i t t e d 
h e r e u n d e r , o r any e x t e n s i o n t h e r e o f , s h a l l c o n s t i t u t e a d e n i a l 
o f 
s u c h 
m o t i o n 
as 
o f 
t h e 
d a t e 
o f 
t h e 
e x p i r a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
p e r i o d . " 
R u l e 59.1 was amended e f f e c t i v e O c t o b e r 24, 2008, t o 
c h a n g e t h e w o r d " d i s p o s e " t o " r e n d e r an o r d e r 
d i s p o s i n g . " 
7 
1110239 
2009, and 
on O c t o b e r 7, 2009; h o w e v e r , Simmons a s s e r t e d 
t h a t 
a t t h a t 
l a s t 
h e a r i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
had 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t 
t h e 
c a s e 
was 
c l o s e d 
b e c a u s e 
i t had 
n e v e r 
e n t e r e d 
an 
o r d e r 
i n 
w r i t i n g 
r e i n s t a t i n g 
t h e 
c a s e . 
Simmons n e v e r t h e l e s s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o u l d 
n o t have s u m m a r i l y d i s m i s s e d 
t h e 
c a s e w i t h o u t 
e n t e r i n g t h e o r d e r d i r e c t e d by t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i n DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
On 
December 
8, 
2009, 
t h e 
C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s d e n i e d Simmons's m o t i o n w i t h o u t 
s t a t i n g 
i t s 
r a t i o n a l e . 
U n d a u n t e d , Simmons, on O c t o b e r 18, 
2010, 
moved t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o s c h e d u l e 
a s t a t u s 
c o n f e r e n c e . 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
t h e r e a f t e r 
f i l e d 
a 
r e s p o n s e 
and 
moved 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o 
s a n c t i o n Simmons. 
I n Simmons's November 18, 
2010, 
r e p l y 
t o 
t h a t r e s p o n s e , he c o n c e d e d t h a t h i s a r g u m e n t s were u n t i m e l y i f 
R u l e 59.1 
a p p l i e d t o h i s c a s e , b u t 
he 
a r g u e d t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r 
o f d i s m i s s a l was 
v o i d b e c a u s e i t 
was 
o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h e remand o r d e r 
i s s u e d by t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i n 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
The 
m a t e r i a l s 
s u b m i t t e d 
t o 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
c o n t a i n 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o o k any 
a c t i o n on 
t h e s e p l e a d i n g s , 
and, 
on 
O c t o b e r 3, 2011, Simmons p e t i t i o n e d t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
8 
1110239 
f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o 
f i n a l l y 
e n t e r an o r d e r s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e f i n d i n g s o f f a c t t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s h a d h e l d were a b s e n t 
f r o m t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
i n i t i a l 
j u d g m e n t , a n d he a r g u e d 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s J u n e 
17, 2008, o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g t h e c a s e was v o i d b e c a u s e i t d i d 
n o t 
c o m p l y w i t h t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d i r e c t i o n s on 
remand. 
The 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
o r d e r e d 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n t o f i l e an a n s w e r t o Simmons's p e t i t i o n , w h i c h 
i t 
s u b s e q u e n t l y d i d , a l o n g w i t h a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e p e t i t i o n 
and a r e q u e s t f o r 
damages f o r 
a " f r i v o l o u s a p p e a l " u n d e r R u l e 
38, A l a . 
R. App. P. 
On November 8, 2 0 1 1 , t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s e n t e r e d an o r d e r g r a n t i n g Simmons's p e t i t i o n , 
d e n y i n g 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s r e q u e s t f o r 
damages, a n d d i r e c t i n g t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t " t o r u l e on t h e remand w i t h i n 28 d a y s f r o m [ t h e ] 
d a t e o f t h i s o r d e r . " 
On November 22, 2 0 1 1 , 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s t o v a c a t e i t s November 8, 2 0 1 1 , j u d g m e n t . 
T h i s C o u r t 
s u b s e q u e n t l y o r d e r e d Simmons a n d t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s t o 
f i l e a n s w e r s a n d b r i e f s i n r e s p o n s e t o DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s 
p e t i t i o n 
a n d g r a n t e d DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s m o t i o n 
t o s t a y 
9 
1110239 
p r o c e e d i n g s 
i n t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t p e n d i n g t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f i t s 
p e t i t i o n . 
I I . 
" T h i s 
C o u r t 
r e v i e w s de novo t h e i s s u a n c e o f a 
w r i t 
o f mandamus by t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s . 
R u l e 
2 1 ( e ) , A l a . 
R. App. P. 
R e v i e w o f a w r i t o f 
mandamus 
i s s u e d b y t h e C o u r t 
o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s i s 
p r o p e r l y s o u g h t t h r o u g h a p e t i t i o n f o r 
t h e w r i t o f 
mandamus t o t h i s C o u r t . 
R u l e 2 1 ( e ) , A l a . R. App. P. 
'"'Mandamus i s a d r a s t i c a n d e x t r a o r d i n a r y w r i t t o 
be 
i s s u e d 
o n l y where 
t h e r e 
i s (1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l 
r i g h t i n t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r s o u g h t ; (2) an 
i m p e r a t i v e 
d u t y 
upon 
t h e r e s p o n d e n t 
t o 
p e r f o r m , 
a c c o m p a n i e d by a r e f u s a l t o do s o ; (3) t h e l a c k o f 
a n o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e remedy; a n d (4) p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o f t h e c o u r t . ' " ' 
Ex 
p a r t e 
S e a r s , 
 
R o e b u c k & Co., 895 So. 2d 2 6 5 [ , 2 
68] 
( A l a . 2004 
) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e M a r d i s , 628 So. 2d 605, 606 ( A l a . 
1 993) 
( q u o t i n g i n t u r n Ex p a r t e 
B e n - A c a d i a , 
L t d . , 
566 So. 2d 486, 488 ( A l a . 1 9 9 0 ) ) ) . 
'The p e t i t i o n e r 
b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g e a c h o f t h e s e 
e l e m e n t s 
b e f o r e t h e w r i t 
w i l l 
i s s u e . ' 
Ex p a r t e 
G l o v e r , 801 
So. 
2d 
1, 
6 
( A l a . 2001 ) 
( c i t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
C o n s o l i d a t e d 
P u b l ' g 
Co., 601 So. 2d 423 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 2 ) ) . " 
Ex p a r t e V a n c e , 900 So. 2d 394, 397 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) . 
I I I . 
I n 
i t s p e t i t i o n 
f o r a 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus, 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n a r g u e s t h a t t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s e x c e e d e d 
i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n i n g r a n t i n g Simmons's p e t i t i o n f o r 
t h e w r i t o f 
mandamus 
b e c a u s e , 
i t s s a y s , 
Simmons's 
p e t i t i o n 
was 
b o t h 
i m p r o p e r a n d u n t i m e l y : 
10 
1110239 
"The 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r 
w r i t 
o f mandamus 
was 
n o t 
p r o p e r l y g r a n t e d by t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s 
f o r 
t h r e e 
d i f f e r e n t 
r e a s o n s : 
1) 
[Simmons's] remedy 
was 
t h r o u g h 
an 
a p p e a l 
and 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i m p r o p e r l y a l l o w e d [Simmons] t o u t i l i z e mandamus as 
a 
s u b s t i t u t e 
f o r 
h i s 
u n t i m e l y 
a p p e a l ; 
2) 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
was 
u n t i m e l y 
f i l e d ; 
and 
3) 
[Simmons] d i d 
n o t c o m p l y w i t h t h e m a n d a t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s 
o f 
R u l e 
21 o f t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e 
f o r 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f 
an 
u n t i m e l y 
p e t i t i o n . 
B e c a u s e 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r w r i t 
o f mandamus d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h 
t h e A l a b a m a 
R u l e s 
o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e 
and 
was 
u n t i m e l y , Dubose 
[ s i c ] C o n s t r u c t i o n f i l e d 
a 
m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
w h i c h 
s h o u l d 
have 
b e e n 
g r a n t e d by t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s . 
Dubose [ s i c ] 
C o n s t r u c t i o n a l s o 
f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r damages and 
was 
e n t i t l e d t o an a w a r d o f damages p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
38 
o f 
t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e . " 
(DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s p e t i t i o n , 
p. 
13.) 
The 
g r a v a m e n 
o f 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s a r g u m e n t , t h e r e f o r e , i s t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g Simmons's c a s e on J u n e 
17, 
2008, and t h a t , a l t h o u g h Simmons moved t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o s e t 
a s i d e 
t h a t 
o r d e r 
on 
J u n e 
20, 
2008, 
and 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n d i c a t e d 
i n a s u b s e q u e n t 
h e a r i n g 
t h a t 
i t was 
i n c l i n e d 
t o 
g r a n t Simmons's m o t i o n , 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t n e v e r 
a c t u a l l y 
s e t 
a s i d e t h e J u n e 17 o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l 
i n w r i t i n g ; 
t h u s , 
t h a t 
J u n e 17 o r d e r became f i n a l p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 59.1 
on S e p t e m b e r 
1 
8 , 20 08 
-- when Simmons's m o t i o n 
t o s e t a s i d e t h e J u n e 
17 
o r d e r was 
d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w b e c a u s e t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t 
had 
n o t 
r u l e d 
on 
i t 
w i t h i n 
90 
d a y s 
o f 
i t s 
f i l i n g . 
11 
1110239 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n a r g u e s , when Simmons 
f a i l e d 
t o 
f i l e an a p p e a l b y O c t o b e r 30, 2008, t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e 
4 2 - d a y p e r i o d f o r f i l i n g an a p p e a l p r o v i d e d by R u l e 4, A l a . R. 
App. 
P., h i s r i g h t t o a p p e a l t h e d i s m i s s a l o f h i s c a s e was 
e x t i n g u i s h e d . 
M o r e o v e r , 
e v e n i f 
Simmons was e n t i t l e d t o s e e k 
mandamus 
r e l i e f 
i n s t e a d 
o f 
r e l i e f 
v i a an 
a p p e a l , 
DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
a r g u e s , t h e same 4 2 - d a y p e r i o d i s p r e s u m e d t o 
a p p l y , 
and Simmons 
f a i l e d 
t o 
i n c l u d e 
i n h i s p e t i t i o n 
a 
s t a t e m e n t 
o f good 
c a u s e 
e x p l a i n i n g why 
t h a t 
4 2 - d a y 
p e r i o d 
s h o u l d n o t a p p l y t o h i s c a s e . 
See R u l e 2 1 ( a ) ( 3 ) , A l a . R. App. 
P. 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s a r g u m e n t s r e g a r d i n g R u l e 59.1 and 
t h e 
t i m e 
l i m i t s 
f o r 
f i l i n g 
an 
a p p e a l 
a r e 
f u n d a m e n t a l l y 
c o r r e c t ; h o w e v e r , t h e y a r e u l t i m a t e l y i m m a t e r i a l b e c a u s e t h e y 
r e l a t e 
t o an 
a r g u m e n t 
Simmons 
h a s 
e s s e n t i a l l y 
c o n c e d e d . 
T h r o u g h o u t 
t h i s 
l i t i g a t i o n , 
Simmons 
h a s 
r e l i e d 
on 
two 
a r g u m e n t s i n h i s a t t e m p t s t o h a v e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r t h e 
f i n d i n g s o f f a c t 
i d e n t i f i e d i n DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n as m i s s i n g 
f r o m i t s o r i g i n a l o r d e r . 
F i r s t , he h a s a r g u e d t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s o r a l s t a t e m e n t s a t t h e A u g u s t 25, 2008, h e a r i n g on 
h i s 
m o t i o n t o s e t a s i d e t h e J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g h i s 
12 
1110239 
c a s e 
w e r e , 
i n 
f a c t , 
e f f e c t i v e 
and 
r e s u l t e d 
i n 
t h e 
r e i n s t a t e m e n t 
o f 
h i s c a s e . 
U n d e r 
t h i s 
t h e o r y 
o f 
t h e 
c a s e , 
Simmons's c a s e has b e e n p e n d i n g 
s i n c e t h a t t i m e and 
Simmons 
s o u g h t mandamus r e l i e f o n l y b e c a u s e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t has 
s i n c e 
r e f u s e d 
t o 
f u l f i l l 
i t s d u t y and 
e n t e r 
a r u l i n g 
i n t h e 
c a s e . 
However, as a b l y a r g u e d by DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n 
and 
e x p l a i n e d 
s u p r a , 
t h i s a r g u m e n t l a c k s l e g a l m e r i t b e c a u s e " R u l e 59.1 must 
be 
r e a d 
i n c o n j u n c t i o n 
and 
i n harmony w i t h 
R u l e 
58, 
w h i c h 
s i m p l y does n o t 
r e c o g n i z e 
an 
o r a l 
r e n d i t i o n o f a j u d g m e n t 
o r 
o r d e r 
o r 
an 
o r a l 
e n t r y 
o f 
a j u d g m e n t 
o r 
o r d e r . " 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
C h a m b l e e , 899 
So. 
2d a t 
248. 
However, Simmons has 
a l s o a r g u e d t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
J u n e 17, 
2008, o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g h i s c a s e was 
v o i d ab 
i n i t i o 
b e c a u s e , he 
s a y s , 
i t d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h 
t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
remand 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
i n DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
The 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , 
Simmons 
a r g u e s , 
o r d e r e d 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t on remand t o make f i n d i n g s d e t a i l i n g w h e t h e r Simmons's 
i n j u r y e n t i t l e d h i m 
t o w o r k e r s ' c o m p e n s a t i o n b e n e f i t s 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
s c h e d u l e 
s e t 
f o r t h i n § 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) and, 
a c c o r d i n g l y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
l a c k e d 
a u t h o r i t y 
t o 
t a k e 
any 
o t h e r 
a c t i o n , 
i n c l u d i n g d i s m i s s i n g t h e c a s e . 
U n d e r t h i s t h e o r y o f t h e 
c a s e , 
13 
1110239 
t h e 
J u n e 
17, 
2008, 
o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
had 
no 
e f f e c t , 
and 
Simmons's c a s e has 
r e m a i n e d p e n d i n g i n t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t 
s i n c e 
t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s remanded i t t o t h a t c o u r t i n DuBose  
C o n s t r u c t i o n ; 
R u l e 
59.1 
and 
t i m e 
l i m i t s 
f o r 
a p p e a l s 
were 
t h e r e f o r e n e v e r i m p l i c a t e d . 
Simmons was 
p r e s u m a b l y 
c o g n i z a n t 
o f 
t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
t h i s 
was 
t h e 
s t r o n g e r 
o f 
h i s 
a r g u m e n t s 
b e c a u s e he a p p e a r s t o h a v e a b a n d o n e d h i s 
f i r s t a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t 
o r a l l y s e t a s i d e i t s o r d e r 
o f d i s m i s s a l when, 
i n a November 18, 2010, 
f i l i n g i n t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t , he c o n c e d e d 
t h a t " i f t h i s i s s u e was 
s u b j e c t t o 
[ R u l e 5 9 . 1 ] , t h e n i t w o u l d 
be 
u n t i m e l y . " 
I n d e e d , 
i n 
t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r 
t h e 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus t h a t Simmons 
s u c c e s s f u l l y p u r s u e d 
i n t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s , 
he 
a r g u e d e x c l u s i v e l y t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r 
o f d i s m i s s a l was 
v o i d as a r e s u l t o f 
t h e 
c o u r t ' s 
f a i l u r e 
t o c o m p l y w i t h 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
on r e m a n d .
2 
M o r e o v e r , 
a l t h o u g h 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
d i d 
n o t 
e x p l a i n i t s r a t i o n a l e f o r g r a n t i n g Simmons's p e t i t i o n f o r 
t h e 
w r i t o f mandamus i n t h e November 8, 2011, 
o r d e r , 
i t has 
f i l e d 
2Simmons d i d , h o w e v e r , as he has 
i n t h e b r i e f s 
f i l e d 
w i t h 
t h i s C o u r t , 
s t a t e as f a c t t h a t t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t r e i n s t a t e d h i s 
c a s e 
a t 
t h e A u g u s t 
25, 
2008, h e a r i n g , 
a l t h o u g h 
he 
does 
n o t 
make any 
f u r t h e r a r g u m e n t s b a s e d on 
t h a t a l l e g e d 
f a c t . 
14 
1110239 
an a n s w e r i n t h i s 
C o u r t r e s p o n d i n g t o DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r t h e w r i t o f mandamus. 
I n t h a t a n s w e r , t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
c o n f i r m s t h a t 
i t i s s u e d 
t h e w r i t 
b a s e d 
on 
Simmons's a r g u m e n t t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
l a c k e d 
a u t h o r i t y t o 
d i s m i s s 
h i s c a s e , 
s t a t i n g : 
"7. 
P u r s u a n t t o e s t a b l i s h e d A l a b a m a c a s e l a w , a 
l o w e r 
c o u r t 
must 
s t r i c t l y 
c o m p l y 
w i t h 
t h e 
remand 
o r d e r o f an a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t . 
See Ex p a r t e 
A l a b a m a  
Power Co., 
431 So. 2d 151, 155 
( A l a . 1983) 
( q u o t i n g 
5 Am. 
J u r . 2d A p p e a l 
and 
E r r o r 
§ 991 
(1 
9 6 2 ) ) . 
I n 
L y n c h v. S t a t e , 587 So. 2d 306, 307 
( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) , t h e 
Supreme C o u r t 
o f A l a b a m a 
h e l d 
t h a t 
a l o w e r 
c o u r t 
a c t s b e y o n d i t s a u t h o r i t y i f i t t a k e s any a c t i o n 
on 
remand t h a t 
d i f f e r s 
f r o m t h e 
e x p l i c i t 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
h i g h e r 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t . 
I n 
A n d e r s o n 
v. 
 
S t a t e , 796 So. 2d 1151 
( A l a . C r i m . 
App. 
2 0 0 0 ) , 
t h e 
A l a b a m a C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s 
i n t e r p r e t e d 
L y n c h 
as h o l d i n g t h a t 
'any a c t by a t r i a l 
c o u r t b e y o n d t h e 
s c o p e 
o f an a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t ' s 
remand o r d e r i s v o i d 
f o r 
l a c k 
o f 
j u r i s d i c t i o n . ' 
796 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1156 
( c i t i n g 
E l l i s 
v. 
S t a t e , 
705 
So. 
2d 843, 
847 
( A l a . 
C r i m . App. 
1996) 
( s t a t i n g t h a t on remand, ' t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t had no 
j u r i s d i c t i o n t o m o d i f y t h e o r i g i n a l 
o r 
b a s e 
s e n t e n c e i m p o s e d 
o r t o t a k e any 
a c t i o n b e y o n d 
t h e e x p r e s s mandate o f t h i s 
c o u r t ' ) ) ; see a l s o Hyde  
v. S t a t e , 894 So. 2d 808 
( A l a . C r i m . App. 
2 0 0 4 ) , 
and 
Moore 
v. 
S t a t e , 
871 
So. 
2d 
106 
( A l a . C r i m . 
App. 
2003) 
( a c c o r d ) . 
"8. 
I n P e t e r s o n v. S t a t e , 842 So. 2d 734, 
739¬
40 
( A l a . C r i m . 
App. 
2 0 0 1 ) , 
t h e A l a b a m a 
C o u r t 
o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s a p p l i e d L y n c h and A n d e r s o n 
t o 
h o l d 
t h a t 
a 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
l a c k e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
t o 
s e t 
a s i d e a d e f e n d a n t ' s c o n v i c t i o n s and t o r e i n s t a t e an 
i n d i c t m e n t 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
b e c a u s e 
t h o s e 
a c t i o n s e x c e e d e d 
t h e s c o p e o f t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s ' 
remand 
o r d e r , 
w h i c h 
m e r e l y 
r e q u i r e d 
t h e 
15 
1110239 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t t o e n t e r 
s p e c i f i c 
f i n d i n g s o f f a c t 
on 
a s e p a r a t e 
i s s u e . 
B e c a u s e t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
a c t e d 
w i t h o u t 
j u r i s d i c t i o n , 
t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s 
h e l d 
t h a t 
t h e j u d g m e n t was 
' v o i d . ' 
842 
So. 
2d 
a t 
740. 
"9. 
I n t h i s c a s e , 
t h i s c o u r t , l i k e t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s i n P e t e r s o n , 
remanded t h e c a s e f o r 
[ t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t ] t o e n t e r 
s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s o f 
f a c t 
r e g a r d i n g t h e 
i n a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e s c h e d u l e . 
L i k e 
i n 
P e t e r s o n , 
[ t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ] 
d i d n o t c o m p l y 
w i t h 
o u r 
m a n d a t e , 
b u t , 
i n s t e a d , 
p u r p o r t e d 
t o 
e n t e r 
a 
j u d g m e n t 
e x c e e d i n g 
t h e 
s c o p e 
o f 
o u r 
remand 
o r d e r , 
n a m e l y , d i s m i s s i n g t h e 
c a s e . 
As 
i n P e t e r s o n , 
[ t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s ] 
j u d g m e n t 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
i s 
' v o i d . ' 
B e c a u s e i t i s v o i d , t h e j u d g m e n t d i d n o t 
e f f e c t i v e l y 
d i s m i s s 
t h e 
c a s e , 
l e a v i n g t h e 
p a r t i e s i n t h e 
same 
p o s i t i o n as t h e y were p r i o r t h e r e t o . 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , 
[ t h e 
t r i a l 
j u d g e ] r e m a i n e d s u b j e c t 
t o 
t h i s 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
t o 
e n t e r 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
f i n d i n g s 
o f 
f a c t 
t o 
e x p l a i n 
why 
he 
d e v i a t e d 
f r o m 
t h e 
s c h e d u l e 
i n 
a w a r d i n g Simmons c o m p e n s a t i o n . 
"10. 
B e c a u s e 
[ t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ] 
d i d n o t 
a c t i n 
s t r i c t 
c o m p l i a n c e 
w i t h 
t h i s 
c o u r t ' s 
remand 
o r d e r , 
Simmons 
was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus 
c o m p e l l i n g 
[ t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s ] 
c o m p l i a n c e . 
See, 
e.g., 
Ex 
p a r t e 
Queen, 
959 
So. 
2d 
620, 
621 
( A l a . 
2006) 
('A 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r 
a w r i t 
o f mandamus 
i s 
t h e 
p r o p e r method by w h i c h t o b r i n g b e f o r e 
an 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t 
t h e 
q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
on 
remand, 
has 
c o m p l i e d 
w i t h 
t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t ' s 
m a n d a t e . ' ) . " 
A f t e r t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s f i l e d i t s a n s w e r , DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
f i l e d 
a 
r e p l y 
i n w h i c h 
i t f o r t h e 
f i r s t 
t i m e 
r e s p o n d e d 
t o 
t h e a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
J u n e 
17, 
2008, 
o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l was 
v o i d and h e n c e w i t h o u t 
e f f e c t . 
I n t h a t r e p l y , 
16 
1110239 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n a r g u e d 
t h a t Simmons's 
p e t i t i o n 
s e e k i n g 
mandamus 
r e l i e f 
f r o m t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
s h o u l d h a v e 
b e e n d e n i e d b e c a u s e 
(1) Simmons c o u l d h a v e , b u t 
n e v e r 
d i d , 
move t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 6 0 ( b ) ( 4 ) , A l a . R. C i v . 
P., 
t o s e t a s i d e i t s J u n e 
17, 
2008, o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
as 
v o i d ,
3 and 
(2) t h e o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l was 
n o t c o n t r a r y t o t h e 
C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s ' 
i n s t r u c t i o n s i n DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
However, f o r t h e r e a s o n s t h a t f o l l o w , t h e s e a r g u m e n t s 
s t i l l 
do 
n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n has a c l e a r l e g a l 
r i g h t 
t o 
t h e 
r e l i e f 
i t s e e k s . 
I n 
s u p p o r t 
o f 
i t s a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
s h o u l d have d e n i e d Simmons's p e t i t i o n b e c a u s e he d i d 
n o t 
f i r s t 
f i l e 
a 
m o t i o n 
i n v o k i n g R u l e 
6 0 ( b ) ( 4 ) , 
DuBose 
3 R u l e 60(b) p r o v i d e s , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
"On 
m o t i o n 
and 
upon 
s u c h 
t e r m s 
as 
a r e 
j u s t , 
t h e 
c o u r t 
may 
r e l i e v e 
a 
p a r t y 
o r 
a 
p a r t y ' s 
l e g a l 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e 
f r o m 
a 
f i n a l 
j u d g m e n t , 
o r d e r , 
o r 
p r o c e e d i n g 
f o r t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
r e a s o n s : 
... 
(4) 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i s v o i d 
.... 
The 
m o t i o n 
s h a l l 
be made 
w i t h i n a r e a s o n a b l e t i m e 
" 
The C o m m i t t e e Comments on t h e 1973 A d o p t i o n o f R u l e 60 
f u r t h e r 
make c l e a r 
t h a t t h e r e i s no 
s e t t i m e 
i n w h i c h 
a p a r t y must 
c h a l l e n g e a v o i d j u d g m e n t b e c a u s e "Alabama l a w has a l w a y s b e e n 
t h a t a v o i d j u d g m e n t c o u l d be v a c a t e d a t any t i m e . " 
C o m m i t t e e 
Comments on 1973 A d o p t i o n o f R u l e 60, A l a . R. C i v . P. 
( c i t i n g 
Sweeney v. 
T r i t s c h , 
151 A l a . 242, 
44 So. 
184 
( 1 9 0 7 ) ) . 
17 
1110239 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
q u o t e s S h a m b u r g e r v. L a m b e r t , 24 So. 3d 1 1 3 9 , 
1142-43 
( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 9 ) : 
"'"A w r i t o f mandamus w i l l 
i s s u e o n l y i n s i t u a t i o n s 
where o t h e r 
r e l i e f i s u n a v a i l a b l e o r i s i n a d e q u a t e , 
and i t 
c a n n o t be u s e d as a s u b s t i t u t e f o r a p p e a l . " ' 
Ex 
p a r t e M o o r e , 880 So. 2d 1 1 3 1 , 1133 ( A l a . 2003) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e E m p i r e F i r e & M a r i n e I n s . Co., 720 
So. 2d 893, 894 ( A l a . 
1 9 9 8 ) ) . 
" I n t h i s c a s e , [ t h e p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d a t l e a s t two 
o t h e r 
a d e q u a t e 
r e m e d i e s . 
F i r s t , 
[ t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r ] 
c o u l d 
have 
r a i s e d 
l a c k 
o f s t a n d i n g 
i n a 
t i m e l y 
a p p e a l t o t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t . 
See Ex p a r t e R.S.C., 
853 So. 2d 228 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2002) 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
p e t i t i o n e r h a d a d e q u a t e remedy b y a p p e a l t o a t t a c k 
p l a i n t i f f ' s a l l e g e d l a c k o f s t a n d i n g a n d , t h e r e f o r e , 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r a w r i t o f mandamus was 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e 
means b y 
w h i c h 
t o s e e k 
r e l i e f ) . 
S e c o n d , [ t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r ] 
c o u l d h a v e 
f i l e d a R u l e 
6 0 ( b ) ( 4 ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., m o t i o n i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t . 
I n h e r 
p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n 
f i l e d i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t on 
J u l y 2 1 , 2008, [ t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r ] d i d 
n o t a s s e r t 
l a c k 
o f 
s t a n d i n g 
as 
a 
j u r i s d i c t i o n a l 
d e f e c t . 
N e v e r t h e l e s s , 
R u l e 60 a l l o w s a p a r t y t o move t o 
s e t 
a s i d e 
a 
j u d g m e n t 
t h a t 
i s 
v o i d 
f o r 
l a c k 
o f 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
a t any t i m e . 
See Ex  
p a r t e 
F u l l 
C i r c l e 
D i s t r i b u t i o n , L.L.C., 883 So. 2d 
638, 
643 ( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) . 
The d i s t r i c t c o u r t 
r e t a i n e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o v e r t h e c a s e t o r u l e on s u c h a m o t i o n 
b e c a u s e , as e x p l a i n e d 
a b o v e , t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t h a d 
n o t a c q u i r e d 
j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r t h e a p p e a l b e c a u s e o f 
t h e u n t i m e l y 
f i l i n g o f [ t h e 
p e t i t i o n e r ' s ] n o t i c e o f 
a p p e a l . 
B e c a u s e 
[ t h e p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d 
a d e q u a t e 
r e m e d i e s a v a i l a b l e t o h e r , t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
i n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus." 
However, we 
f i n d S h a m b u r g e r t o be d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e . 
I n t h a t 
c a s e , t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s t a t e d t h a t t h e 
18 
1110239 
p e t i t i o n e r d i d n o t a s s e r t l a c k o f s t a n d i n g as a 
j u r i s d i c t i o n a l 
d e f e c t 
i n t h e p o s t j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n 
she 
f i l e d 
i n t h e 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t , 
and, 
f o r a l l t h a t 
a p p e a r s , 
she 
n e v e r 
d i d b r i n g 
t h a t 
s p e c i f i c 
a r g u m e n t 
t o 
t h e 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t ' s 
a t t e n t i o n . 
I d . 
However, i n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e , Simmons c l e a r l y a r t i c u l a t e d h i s 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
J u n e 
17, 
2008, 
o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
was 
v o i d 
b e c a u s e 
i t 
f a i l e d 
t o 
c o m p l y 
w i t h 
t h e 
mandate o f t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s i n DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
and t h a t i t c o u l d a c c o r d i n g l y be c h a l l e n g e d 
a t any t i m e . 
F o r 
e x a m p l e i n a November 18, 
2010, 
f i l i n g 
i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
Simmons s t a t e d : 
" I n L o o n e y v. 
S t a t e , 
60 So. 
3d 293, 
296 
( A l a . 
C i v . App. 
2 0 1 0 ) , t h e A l a b a m a C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
h e l d 
t h a t 
' " [ a ] s a n u l l i t y , 
a v o i d j u d g m e n t has 
no 
e f f e c t 
and 
i s s u b j e c t 
t o 
a t t a c k 
a t any 
t i m e 
[A] m o t i o n 
f o r r e l i e f 
f r o m a v o i d j u d g m e n t i s n o t 
g o v e r n e d by t h e r e a s o n a b l e - t i m e r e q u i r e m e n t o f R u l e 
6 0 ( b ) . " 
[Ex p a r t e 
F u l l C i r c l e D i s t r i b u t i o n , L.L.C., 
883 
So. 
2d 
638, 
643 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) ] . ' 
A l s o 
on 
t h i s 
i s s u e , 
[Judge Moore o f t h e A l a b a m a C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ] , 
c o n c u r r i n g 
s p e c i a l l y 
i n 
F r a n k l i n 
v. 
 
C a t l e d g e , 59 So. 3d 738, 
742 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2 0 1 0 ) , 
w r o t e 
t h a t i n r e g a r d 
t o a v o i d j u d g m e n t , any 
p a r t y 
a g g r i e v e d 
by t h e j u d g m e n t may 
f i l e a R u l e 
6 0 ( b ) ( 4 ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P., m o t i o n i n t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t t o h a v e 
t h e j u d g m e n t s e t 
a s i d e . " 
A l t h o u g h Simmons d i d n o t 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
e n t i t l e 
t h a t 
f i l i n g 
as 
a " m o t i o n t o s e t a s i d e a j u d g m e n t p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
6 0 ( b ) ( 4 ) , " 
19 
1110239 
i t i s 
t h i s C o u r t ' s 
l o n g s t a n d i n g p o l i c y t h a t t h e " ' c h a r a c t e r o f 
a p l e a d i n g i s d e t e r m i n e d a n d i n t e r p r e t e d f r o m i t s e s s e n t i a l 
s u b s t a n c e , 
a n d n o t f r o m i t s d e s c r i p t i v e name o r t i t l e . ' " Ex  
p a r t e 
A l f a Mut. Gen. I n s . 
Co., 684 So. 2d 1281 , 1282 ( A l a . 
1996) 
( q u o t i n g U n i o n S p r i n g s T e l . 
Co. v. G r e e n , 285 A l a . 
114, 
117, 229 So. 2d 5 0 3 , 505 ( 1 9 6 9 ) ) . 
Simmons a r g u e d t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t h a t i t s J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l was v o i d , 
and, 
n o t o b t a i n i n g 
r e l i e f 
f r o m 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
he was 
e n t i t l e d t o p e t i t i o n t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s f o r 
mandamus 
r e l i e f . 
See Ex p a r t e Queen, 959 So. 2d 620, 621 ( A l a . 2006) 
("A p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus i s t h e p r o p e r m e t h o d b y 
w h i c h t o b r i n g b e f o r e an a p p e l l a t e c o u r t t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , on remand, h a s c o m p l i e d 
w i t h t h e a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t ' s m a n d a t e . " ) . 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n n e x t a r g u e s t h a t t h e J u n e 17, 2008, 
o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l e n t e r e d b y t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t i s n o t v o i d 
b e c a u s e , i t 
a r g u e s , t h e o r d e r i s n o t c o n t r a r y t o t h e remand 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
o f t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i n 
DuBose 
 
C o n s t r u c t i o n . 
R a t h e r , 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n a r g u e s , t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s m e r e l y h e l d t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
c o u l d n o t 
a w a r d Simmons damages 
b a s e d on a l o s s o f e a r n i n g 
c a p a c i t y 
20 
1110239 
w i t h o u t 
f i r s t m a k i n g a f i n d i n g t h a t t h e e f f e c t s o f Simmons's 
knee 
i n j u r y 
e x t e n d e d t o o t h e r 
p a r t s 
o f h i s b o d y and t h e n 
remanded t h e c a u s e 
" f o r t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o e n t e r a j u d g m e n t 
c o n s i s t e n t 
w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n . " 
989 So. 2d a t 1143. 
A 
j u d g m e n t 
c o n t a i n i n g 
no 
f i n d i n g s 
o f 
f a c t 
and 
d i s m i s s i n g 
Simmons's 
c a s e 
w i t h o u t 
a w a r d i n g 
h i m damages 
i s , DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n 
a r g u e s , e n t i r e l y c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h a t h o l d i n g -¬
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t was i n s t r u c t e d o n l y 
t h a t i t c o u l d n o t a w a r d 
Simmons b e n e f i t s w i t h o u t m a k i n g t h e s u p p o r t i n g 
f i n d i n g s . 
We 
d i s a g r e e . 
I n DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s n o t e d 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t h a d f a i l e d t o make f i n d i n g s 
c o n c e r n i n g 
w h e t h e r Simmons's i n j u r y e n t i t l e d h i m t o c o m p e n s a t i o n 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
s c h e d u l e i n § 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) , A l a . 
Code 1975, and 
e x p l a i n e d 
t h a t i t 
was t h e d u t y o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o make a f i n d i n g o f 
e v e r y f a c t n e c e s s a r y t o s u s t a i n i t s j u d g m e n t . 
989 So. 2d a t 
1143. 
H a v i n g 
i d e n t i f i e d 
t h a t 
i t was t h e a b s e n c e o f s u c h 
f i n d i n g s 
t h a t 
r e q u i r e d 
t h e r e v e r s a l o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t , 
i t i s e v i d e n t 
t h a t 
t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i n t e n d e d f o r 
t h e t r i a l c o u r t , on remand, t o make s u c h f i n d i n g s 
r e g a r d l e s s 
o f w h e t h e r 
t h o s e 
f i n d i n g s 
s u p p o r t e d 
t h e 
t r i a l 
21 
1110239 
c o u r t ' s 
i n i t i a l j u d g m e n t .
4 
See H a r b i n v. U n i t e d 
S t a t e s 
S t e e l  
C o r p . , 356 So. 2d 179, 182 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1978) ( s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t i n a w o r k e r s ' c o m p e n s a t i o n c a s e was r e q u i r e d 
t o make f i n d i n g s o f f a c t r e g a r d i n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o r a b s e n c e o f 
e v i d e n c e 
r e l e v a n t t o d i s p u t e d 
i s s u e ) . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
o n l y a 
j u d g m e n t 
c o n t a i n i n g 
f i n d i n g s o f f a c t w o u l d c o m p l y w i t h t h e 
C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t " t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r 
a j u d g m e n t 
c o n s i s t e n t 
w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n , " 
a n d any 
j u d g m e n t 
f a i l i n g t o do so was, i n f a c t , 
v o i d . 
I d . 
T h i s 
c o n c l u s i o n i s b u t t r e s s e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s h a s c o n f i r m e d 
i t s i n t e n t i n i t s a n s w e r f i l e d w i t h 
t h i s 
C o u r t a n d b y t h e f a c t t h a t o t h e r 
t r i a l c o u r t s have i n t e r p r e t e d 
s i m i l a r remand l a n g u a g e u s e d b y t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s i n 
c a s e s 
i n v o l v i n g 
§ 
2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) 
as 
r e q u i r i n g 
an 
o r d e r 
s u p p l e m e n t i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
f i n d i n g s o f f a c t t o a d d r e s s 
t h e i s s u e w h e t h e r an o n - t h e - j o b i n j u r y a f f e c t e d more t h a n 
j u s t 
t h e b o d y p a r t t h a t s u f f e r e d t h e d i r e c t 
i n j u r y . 
S e e , e . g . , 
Ex 
 
p a r t e A d d i s o n F a b r i c a t o r s , I n c . , 
989 So. 2d a t 500. 
DuBose 
4The e n t i r e r e c o r d i s n o t b e f o r e 
t h i s C o u r t on mandamus 
r e v i e w ; h o w e v e r , t h e 
m a t e r i a l s b e f o r e us i n d i c a t e t h a t Simmons 
has 
a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e i n j u r y t o h i s r i g h t knee a l s o a f f e c t e d 
h i s 
b a c k , h i s l e f t 
l e g , a n d h i s r i g h t e l b o w . 
The t r i a l 
c o u r t 
has 
a c c e s s 
t o t h e e n t i r e r e c o r d a n d c a n p r o p e r l y 
d e t e r m i n e 
w h e t h e r t h o s e 
a s s e r t i o n s a r e g r o u n d e d i n t h e e v i d e n c e . 
22 
1110239 
C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l 
was 
c o n s i s t e n t 
w i t h 
t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
remand i n s t r u c t i o n s i s w i t h o u t 
m e r i t . 
I V . 
DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n p e t i t i o n e d t h i s C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f 
mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l 
A p p e a l s t o v a c a t e i t s 
November 
8, 2 0 1 1 , o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g Simmons's 
p e t i t i o n f o r t h e 
w r i t 
o f mandamus and 
d i r e c t i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o i s s u e a 
r u l i n g on t h e remand o r d e r e d i n DuBose C o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h i n 28 
d a y s . 
However, DuBose 
C o n s t r u c t i o n has 
f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t i t has a c l e a r l e g a l 
r i g h t t o t h a t 
r e l i e f b e c a u s e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s J u n e 17, 2008, o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g Simmons's 
c a s e 
was 
v o i d as b e i n g 
o u t s i d e 
t h e s c o p e o f t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' remand o r d e r , a n d Simmons was a c c o r d i n g l y e n t i t l e d t o 
a w r i t d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a p r o p e r j u d g m e n t i n 
t h e 
c a s e . 
P E T I T I O N DENIED. 
M a l o n e , C . J . , and P a r k e r , Shaw, and W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
23