Title: Ex Parte Mutual Sav. Life Ins. Co.

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

765 So. 2d 649 (1998)
Ex parte MUTUAL SAVINGS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
(In re Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company v. Alsie M. Smith).
1970424.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
May 22, 1998.
Robert W. Bradford, Jr., and Jeffrey J. Bradwell of Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, Montgomery, for petitioner.
Frank H. Hawthorne, Jr., and C. Gibson Vance of Hawthorne, Hawthorne & Vance, L.L.C., Montgomery, for respondent.
HOUSTON, Justice.
On June 27, 1996, Alsie Smith obtained a $625 judgment against Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company ("Mutual Savings"). Because Mutual Savings was satisfied with this result, it did not file a post-judgment motion. However, on July 25, 1996, within 30 days of the entry of the judgment, Smith moved for a new trial, pursuant to Rule 59(a), Ala.R.Civ.P., arguing that the damages award was inadequate in light of the evidence she had presented at trial. Mutual Savings filed a response in opposition to the new trial motion; after a hearing, the trial court granted Smith's motion on September 23, 1996. On October 22, 1996, within 30 days of the order granting a new trial, Mutual Savings filed a document styled "Motion for Reconsideration and Brief in Support Thereof," in which it challenged the basis for the trial court's order granting a new trial. The trial court never ruled on that motion.
On February 24, 1997 (within 42 days of the 90th day following October 22, 1996; see Rule 59.1), Mutual Savings filed a notice of appeal to this Court, pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, § 12-22-10, challenging the *650 trial court's order granting a new trial. This Court transferred the appeal to the Court of Civil Appeals, pursuant to Ala. Code 1975, § 12-2-7(6). The Court of Civil Appeals, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal as untimely. Relying on Sunshine Homes, Inc. v. Newton, 443 So. 2d 921 (Ala.1983), the Court of Civil Appeals held that Mutual Savings' October 22, 1996, motion "to reconsider" was not sufficient under the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure to toll the time for taking an appeal from the September 23, 1996, order granting a new trial. See Mutual Savings Life Ins. Co. v. Smith, 765 So. 2d 646 (Ala. Civ.App.1997). We granted Mutual Savings' petition for certiorari review. We reverse and remand.
As Mutual Savings correctly points out, the September 23, 1996, order granting Smith a new trial was a new "judgment" within the meaning of our Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rule 54(a), which defines a "judgment" as including "a decree and any order from which an appeal lies." See, also, § 12-22-10, which provides that "[e]ither party in a civil case... may appeal to the appropriate appellate court from an order granting or refusing a motion for a new trial by the circuit court." A party may challenge an adverse judgment by filing, within 30 days of its entry, a motion to alter, amend, or vacate the judgment, pursuant to Rule 59(e). A timely filed Rule 59(e) motion suspends the running of the time for filing a notice of appeal. Rule 4(a)(3), Ala.R.App.P. An examination of Mutual Savings' October 22, 1996, motion, although styled as one to "reconsider," clearly reveals that it was a Rule 59(e) motion. This Court looks to the essence of a motion, not just to its title, to determine how the motion should be treated under our Rules of Civil Procedure. Ex parte Alfa Mutual General Ins. Co., 684 So. 2d 1281 (Ala.1996). We conclude that Mutual Savings' October 22, 1996, motion, being a Rule 59(e) motion, suspended the running of the time for filing a notice of appeal, until that motion was denied by operation of law after 90 days, pursuant to Rule 59.1, Ala.R.Civ.P. Because Mutual Savings filed its notice of appeal within 42 days after the denial of its motion, its appeal was timely.
We note that this is not the first time this Court has discussed this particular issue. See Ex parte Dowling, 477 So. 2d 400, 403-04 (Ala.1985), wherein this Court stated:
(Emphasis added.) In his opinion concurring specially in Bowling, Chief Justice Torbert stated:
477 So. 2d  at 404. We recognize, however, that Sunshine Homes, Inc. v. Newton, supra, which the Court of Civil Appeals relied on in this present case, is to the contrary. In Sunshine Homes, which predates Dowling, this Court stated:
443 So. 2d  at 923-24. (Some emphasis in original; some emphasis added.)
After reexamining Dowling and Sunshine Homes, we are persuaded that Dowling, not Sunshine Homes, is consistent with our Rules of Civil Procedure. This Court has never followed Sunshine Homes with respect to this particular issue; however, both this Court and the Court of Civil Appeals have recognized the holding in Dowling. See McAlister v. Deatherage, 523 So. 2d 387, 389 (Ala.1988), wherein this Court stated:
See, also, Simmons v. Estate of Glenn, 693 So. 2d 501 (Ala.Civ.App.1997); Mangon v. Mangon, 660 So. 2d 1332 (Ala.Civ.App. 1995); A & S Bail Bonding Co. v. State, 627 So. 2d 446 (Ala.Civ.App.1993); Standridge v. Standridge, 628 So. 2d 870 (Ala. Civ.App.1993); Alabama Association of Rescue Squads v. State Department of Public Health, 575 So. 2d 1130 (Ala.Civ. App.1991); Calhoun v. Calhoun, 563 So. 2d 620 (Ala.Civ.App.1990). In fact, the Court of Civil Appeals, following Dowling, has previously held exactly as we do here. See Woodall v. Woodall, 506 So. 2d 1005 (Ala.Civ.App.1987).
We reiterate that if a party has his own post-judgment motion denied, the review of that denial is by appeal. The rules do not provide for a "motion to reconsider" the denial of one's own post-judgment motion. Dowling. However, our Rules, including Rules 54(a), 59, and 50(c)(2), clearly contemplate that if a party has his post-judgment motion granted and a new judgment is entered, then the aggrieved party (here Mutual Savings) has the opportunity to file an appropriate post-judgment motion. To the extent that Sunshine Homes *652 is inconsistent with Dowling, it is hereby overruled. In addition, to the extent that certain statements in Sims v. Sims, 532 So. 2d 646 (Ala.Civ.App.1988), and Medical Center East, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 686 So. 2d 1218 (Ala.Civ.App.1996), are inconsistent with today's holding, those statements are overruled as well.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals dismissing the appeal is reversed and the case is remanded for that court to consider the appeal.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
HOOPER, C.J., and MADDOX, ALMON, SHORES, KENNEDY, COOK, SEE, and LYONS, JJ., concur.