FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ar ch 11, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 46 6 . J O RREE v . PM B RENTALS, LLC.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

Aft er th e Mag i s t rat e Co u rt o f W as h i n g t o n Co u n t y d en i ed Ap p el lan t Bas m at i e

J o rree’ s m o t io n t o s et as i de a defau l t ju d gm en t en tered ag ai ns t h er, s h e fi led a p et i t i o n

fo r a wri t o f cert i o rari i n th e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Wa s h i n g t o n Co u n t y

. Th e s u p eri o r

co u rt g ran t ed th e m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s fi l ed by Ap p el l ee, PM B Ren t al s

, LLC, an d we

g ran t ed t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d isc ret io n ary rev i ew. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h,

i n fra, we v acat e t he s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ju d gm en t an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

.

In J u l y 2 01 2

, PM B Ren t al s fi l ed a veri fi ed co m pl ai n t i n m ag i s t rat e co u rt

ag ai n s t t h e Ap p el l an t an d h er h u s b a n d

, So ok d eo J o ree 1 (co l l ect i vel y

, t h e

“ d efen d an t s ”), al leg i n g i n Co u n t s 1

, 2

, an d 3 cl ai m s o f breach o f co n t ract ag ai n s t

1 Al t h o u gh t h e reco rd h as o ccas i o n al referen ces t o “ So ok d eo J o rree,” h i s l as t

n am e m o re o ft en ap p ears as “ J o ree,” an d we ad op t t h at s p el l i n g i n t h i s o p i ni o n

.So o k d eo J o ree b as ed o n h i s fai lu re t o m ak e t h e ag reed -u p on p ay m en ts o n t h e

p u rch as e o f t h ree s t o rag e u n i t s

. In Co u nt s 4

, 5

, an d 6

, PM B Ren t al s s o ug h t p o s s es s i o n

o f t h e t h ree u n i t s. T h e rem ai n i n g co u n t s al l eg ed co n v ers io n ag ai n s t b ot h d efen d an t s

an d s ou g h t at t o rn ey

fees an d l i t i g at i o n co s t s

.

Th e fo l l o w i n g m o n th

, PM B Ren t al s fi l ed a m ot io n fo r t h e a p p o i n t m en t o f a

pr oc es s serv er. Acco rd in g t o t h e “ s h eri ff’ s en t ry o f s erv i ce[,] ” t h e s h e r if f ’ s de pa r tm e nt

h ad b een u n ab l e t o p erfect serv i ce as t h ere was a l ock ed g at e at t h e d efen d an t s ’

res i den ce, wh i ch w a s l o cat ed ap p ro x i m at el y 1 ,0 0 0 feet fro m th e ro ad way

. PM B

R e n t al s req u es t ed th e co u rt t o ap p o i n t Co p u s In v es t i g at i o ns

, LLC (“ Co p u s ”), a s

s p eci al p ro ces s s erv er. Th e m ag i s t rat e co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t io n

.

In Oct o b er 2 0 1 2

, PM B Ren t al s f i l e d a m ot i o n fo r s erv i ce b y p u b l i cat i o n,

a l l eg i ng th at b ot h t h e sh eri ff’ s d ep art m en t an d t h e s p eci al p ro ces s s erv er h ad b ee n

u n ab le t o p erfect s erv i ce o n t h e d efen d an t s

. In a su p po rt i n g affi d av i t

, t h e at to rn ey fo r

PM B Ren t a l s t es t ifi ed t h at t h e d efen d an t s ei th er co ul d n o t b e fo u n d i n W as h i n g t o n

Co u n t y fo r s erv i ce or t h ey w ere av o i di n g s erv ice. T h e m a g i s t rat e co u rt g ran t ed t h e

m o ti o n

.

In J an u ary 2 0 1 3

, P M B Ren tal s fi l ed a m o t i on fo r d efau l t j u d gm en t

, av erri n g

t h at t h e d efen d an ts h ad b een “ s erv ed b y p u b l i cat i o n by way o f a leg al ad vert i s em en t

2i n Th e San d e r s vi ll e Pro g res s [,] ” 2 b u t h ad n o t fi l ed an an s wer or o t h er res p o n s i v e

p l ead i n g

. In an o rd er en t ered t h e sam e d ay

, t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt gran t ed t h e m o t i o n,

“ i t ap p eari n g t o t h e Co u rt t h at m o re t h an 6 0 d ays h a [ d ] e l a p s ed s i n ce t h e Ord er o f

Pu b l icat i o n o f t h e Su m

m o n s an d Co m

p l ai n t [.] ”

Aft er d es i g n at in g PM B Ren t al s as “ Pl ai n t i ff” an d So ok d eo J o ree an d Bas m at i e

J o rree as “

Def en d a n t s [,] ” t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt o rd ered t h at “ Pl ai nt i ff s h al l h av e

ju d g m en t ag ai n s t Def

en d a n t pu rs u an t t o Co u n t s [1

, 2

, an d 3 .] ” 3 Th e m ag i s t rat e co u rt

award ed ju d g m en t i n t h e am o u n t o f $ 1 0

, 7 1 4 .8 9

, p lu s fees an d co s ts

. T h e m ag i s t rat e

co u rt al s o award ed p o s s es si o n o f t h e t h ree p ro p ert i es t o PM B Ren t al s

, p urs u an t t o i t s

cl ai m s in Co u n t s 4

, 5, an d 6 o f i t s co m p l ai n t

. Th e m ag i s t rat e co u rt d i d n ot ad dres s t h e

rem ai n i n g cl ai m s

.

Al m o st a y ear an d a h a l f l at er, t h e Ap p el l an t fi l ed a m o t i on t o s et as i d e t h e

d efau l t ju d g m en t, al l e ging la ck o f p ers o nal j u ri sd i ct i o n

. Th e Ap p el l an t ch al l en g ed t h e

g ro u nd s fo r t h e ap p o i n t m en t o f t h e s p eci al p ro ces s s erv er an d s erv ice b y p u b l i cat i o n.

Th e Ap p el l an t arg u ed

, i n ter al i a, t h at t h e at t o rn ey ’ s affi d av it fo r s erv i ce by

p u b l i cat i on “ co n t ai ned o n l y co n cl u s o ry s t at em en t s an d / o r s t at em en t s o f wh i ch [t h e]

2 Th e reco rd d o es n ot i ncl u d e a cert i fi cat e o f th e cl erk o f co u rt cert i fy i n g t o t h e

p u b l i cat i on an d m ai l i n g. See OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (h ).

3 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .)

3at t o rn ey ” l ack ed fi rs t h an d kn o wl ed g e. PM B Ren tal s h ad n ot pro v i ded an affi d av i t

fro m an y o n e at Co p u s reg ard i n g t h e p ro ces s s erv er’ s effo rt s t o s erv e t he Ap p el l an t

.

Th e Ap p el l an t al so n o t ed t hat t h e defau l t ju d g m en t ap p eared t o o nl y h av e b een

en t ered ag ai n s t So o k d eo J o ree as i t s t at ed “ Defen d an t ” i n t h e s i n g u l ar an d e n t ered

ju d g m en t o n t h e t h ree b reach -o f-co n t ract cl ai m s t h at h ad b een as s ert ed o n l y ag ai n s t

h i m

.

In s u p po rt of h er co n t en t i o n t h at s he h ad m eri t o ri ou s d efen s es an d

co u nt ercl ai m s

, t h e Ap p el l an t al s o fi l ed a v eri fi ed an s wer t o t h e co m p l ai n t

. A cco rd i n g

t o t h e Ap p el l an t, two o f t h e t h ree s t o rag e u n i t s at i s s u e h ad b een d es t ro y ed i n a fi re

an d n o l on g er ex i s t ed . Acco rd i n g t o t h e v eri fi ed an s w er,

[a] t so m e p o in t s h ort ly aft er t h e M ay 1 7, 2 0 08 , p u rch as e o f t h e 1 0 fo o t

[b y ] 1 8 fo ot [rem ai n i n g ] u n i t

, [t h e u n it ] was at tach ed t o a 1 4 fo ot [b y ] 1 8

fo o t u n i t o n i t s l eft si d e an d was at t ach ed t o a 2 4 f o o t [b y ] 1 8 fo o t

s t ru ct u re o n i t s ri g h t s i d e. Aft er t h e u n i t s were at t ach ed : p l u m bi n g w as

i n s t al l ed w i t h wo rk i n g s i n k s an d co m p l et e b at h ro o m s ; el ect ri cal wo rk

was d o n e s o t h a t t h e s t ru ct u re h ad wo rk i n g el ect ri cal o ut l et s an d l i g h t

s wi t ch es ; in s ul at i o n was ad d ed t o t h e wal l s ; t h e wal l s were co v ered w i t h

s h eet ro ck an d p ai n t ed ; t i l e fl o o ri n g was in st al l ed ; a wat er h eat er w as

i n s t al l ed ; an ai r co n d i t i o n i n g u n i t was in s t al l ed

, a k i tch en s t o v e,

refri gerat o r, an d k i t ch en cab i net s were i n s tal l ed ; an d t h e s t ru ct u re w as

co m p let el y fu rn i s h ed wi t h li v i n g ro o m

, b at h ro o m

, an d b ed ro om

4fu rn it u re. So ok d eo J o ree, [t h e A p p el l an t

, ] an d t h ei r fi v e[-] y ear[-] o l d

d au g h t er b eg an l i v i n g i n t h e u n it

.

So o k d eo Jo ree ret u rn ed t o h is n at i v e co u n t r y o f B razi l in M ay 2 00 9

, aft er

d eed in g t o t h e Ap p el l an t t h e W as h i n g t o n Co un t y p ro p ert y on wh i ch t h e rem o d el ed

s t ru ct u re was l o cat ed

. Th e Ap p el lan t an d t h ei r d au g h t er co n t in u ed t o l i v e i n t h e

s t ru ct u re. In an affi d av i t fi led w i t h t h e an s wer, t h e Ap p el l an t t es t i fi ed t h at s he h ad n ot

b een i n v o l v ed w i t h t h e co n t ract s t o p u rch as e th e un i t s an d th at h er h u s b an d h ad n ev er

d i s cu s s ed wi t h h er t he s t at u s o f p ay m en t s

. Sh e was n o t a w a r e o f th e l aws u i t fi l ed

ag ai n s t h er i n W as h i n g t o n Co u n t y an d h ad n o t at t em

p t ed t o av o i d s erv i ce.

Acco rd i ng t o t h e an s wer an d affi d av i t

, in M ay 2 0 1 3

, ag en ts fo r PM B Ren tal s

cu t t h e l o ck o n t h e gat e t o t h e A p p e l l an t’ s p ro p ert y

, an d

, d es pi t e her fren zi ed p l eas

t o st o p, co n n ect ed a t owi ng w ren ch t o t h e m i d d l e u ni t o f h er res i d en ce, an d t o wed t h e

u n i t away , cau s i ng t h e res t o f t h e s t ru ct ure t o co l l ap s e an d d es t ro y i n g h er h o m e.

Aft er a h eari n g

, t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt d en i ed t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s m o t i o n t o s et as i d e

t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at a m o t io n t o s et as i de h ad t o b e fi led wi t h in

3 0 day s o f th e d at e t h e j ud gm en t was is s u ed

. T h e Ap p el l an t fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r a wri t

o f cert io rari i n t h e s u p eri o r co u rt . In h i s an s wer t o t he p et i t i o n

, t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt

ju d g e s t at ed t h at h e “ ag reed th at t h e J u d g m en t an d Fi fa s h o u l d be di s m i s s ed o n [t h e

5Ap p el l an t ]

. ” Ho w ev er, t he m ag i s t rat e co u rt d en i ed t h e m ot i o n b ecau s e “ t h e ru l es o f

t h e M ag i s t rat e Co u rt [d o n ot au t h o ri ze] an y ap p eal o n a Defau l t J u d g m en t an d al l

m o ti o n s m

us t b e m ad e wi th i n 3 0 d ay s o f J u d g m en t.”

Th e s u p eri o r co u rt di sm i s s ed t h e A pp el l an t ’ s p et i t i o n fo r a wri t o f cert i o rari as

u n t i m el y , fi n d i n g as fo l l o ws :

OCGA § 1 5-1 0-4 1 (b ) (2 ) s t at es t h at “ n o ap p eal s h al l l i e fro m a d efau l t

ju d g m en t ” en t ered by a Mag i st rat e Co u rt

. Rev i ew i s b y cert i o rari t o th e

s t at e co u rt o r s u p eri o r co u rt o f s ai d co u n t y

. OCGA § 5 -4 -6 st at es t hat

“ al l wri t s o f cert i o rari s h al l b e ap p l i ed fo r wi th i n 30 d ay s aft er t h e fi nal

d et erm i nat i o n o f t he cas e i n w h i ch t he erro r i s al l eg ed t o h a v e b een

co m m i t t ed

. Ap p l i cat i o n s m ad e aft er 3 0 d ay s are n o t t i m el y an d sh al l be

d i s m i s s ed b y t h e co u rt .” 4

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

“ W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o ti o n t o d i sm i s s d e n o v o

, v i ewi n g al l

al l eg at i o n s i n t h e co m

p l ai n t as t ru e. T h u s

, we o w e no d e f e r e n c e t o a t ri al co urt ’ s

ru l i n g on q u es t i on s o f l aw an d rev i ew s uch i s s u e s d e n o v o u nd er t h e ‘ p lai n l eg al

4 (Pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed

. )

6erro r’ s tan d ard o f rev i ew.” 5 W i t h t h es e g ui d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we t u rn n o w t o t h e

Ap p el l an t ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Th e Ap p el l an t co nt en d s t h at t h e s u p eri o r co urt erre d i n d i s m is s i n g h er

p et i t i o n as u n t i m el y b ecau s e s h e fi l ed i t wi th i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h e d en i al of her m o t i o n to

s et as i de t h e d efau lt ju dg m en t

.

OCGA § 5 -4 -6 (a) p ro v i d es : “ A l l wri t s o f cert i o rari s h al l b e ap pl i ed fo r wi t h in

3 0 d ay s aft er t h e fi n al d et erm i n at i o n o f th e cas e i n w h i ch t h e erro r i s al l eg ed t o h av e

b een co m

m it t ed

. Ap p l i c a t io n s m ad e aft er 3 0 d ay s are n ot t i m el y an d s h al l b e

d i s m i s s ed b y t h e co u rt .”

Th e p art i es d o n o t d i s p u t e t h at t h e A p p el l an t fi l ed h er p et it i o n fo r a wri t o f

cert io rari o n Oct o b er 6

, 2 0 1 4

, wh i ch was n o t wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h e J an u ary 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

d efau l t ju d g m en t

, bu t was w i th i n 3 0 d ay s o f th e Sep t em b er 5, 2 0 1 4 o rd er d en y i n g h er

m o ti o n to s et as i de t h e d e f a u l t

. 6 Th u s

, t h e Ap p el lan t ’ s p et i t i o n fo r cert i orari was

t i m el y fi l ed

.

5 La s ka r v. Bd

. o f Reg en ts o

f t h e Un i v. S

ys t em o f Ga

. , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p. 41 4 (7 4 0

SE2 d 1 7 9) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n s an d ad d i t i o n al p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 See OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (d ) (3 ) ( i f t h e l as t d ay fal l s o n Sat urd ay o r Su n d ay

, t h e

p art y s h al l h av e t h ro u g h t he fo l l o wi ng M o n d ay ).

7W e t u rn

, t h erefo re, t o t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er t h e d en i al o f t h e Ap pel l an t ’ s m o t i o n

t o s et as id e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t was rev i ewab l e b y t h e su p eri o r co u rt

. O CGA § 1 5

-

1 0 -4 1 g o v ern s ap peal s fro m m ag i s trat e co u rt

. “ Su b s ect i o n (b ) (1 ) p ro v id es a g en eral

ri gh t o f ap peal fro m m ag i s t rat e co u rt j u d g m en t s to s t at e o r s u p eri o r co u rt

, s u b ject to

t h e ex cep t i o n s s et fo rt h i n s u b s ect i o n (b ) (2 ), wh i ch b y i t s t erm s

, ap p li es to rev i ew o f

a d efau l t ju d g m en t o r d i s m i ss al fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu ti o n o r o f m ot i o n s t o v acat e t h o s e

o rd ers .” 7 OCGA § 1 5 -1 0-4 1 (b ) (2 ) p ro v i des :

No ap p eal s hal l li e fro m a d efau l t ju d g m en t o r fro m a d i s m i s s al fo r wan t

o f p ro s ecu t i on aft er a n o n ap p earan ce o f a p lai n t i ff f o r t ri al

. An y

v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s al b y t h e p lai n t i ff o r b y o rd er o f t h e co u rt fo r wan t o f

p ro s ecu t i on s h al l be wi t h o u t p reju di ce ex cep t t h at th e fi l i n g o f a s eco n d

s u ch d i s m i s s al s hal l o p erat e as an ad ju d i cat i o n up o n t h e m eri t s

. Rev i ew,

i n cl u d i n g r evi ew o

f a d en ia l o f a p o s t j u d g me n t m o t i o n t o va ca t e a

j u d g men t

, s h al l b e b y cert i o rari to t h e s t at e co u rt o f t h at co u n ty o r t o th e

s u p eri o r co urt o f t h at co u n t y

. 8

Th erefo re, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt was au t h o ri zed to rev i ew t he d en i al o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

m o ti o n t o s et as i d e.

7 McKeever v. S

ca r ver , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 , 1 4-1 5 (8 2 1 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

8 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .)

8Al t h ou g h p ro ceed i n g s i n m ag i s t rat e co u rt are gen eral l y n o t s ub ject t o t h e Ci v i l

Pract i ce Act

, 9 “ t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt m ay g ran t rel i ef fro m a ju d g m en t u n d er th e s am e

ci rcu m s t an ces as t h e s t at e co u rt m ay g ran t s u ch rel ief.” 1 0 “ [E] n t ry o f [a] d efau l t

ju d g m en t t ri g ger[s ] ap p l i cat io n o f O C G A § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ), wh i ch res t ri ct s t o v ery

l i m i te d c i r c u m s t an ces a co u rt ’ s au t h o ri t y t o s et as i d e fi n al ju d g m en ts .” 1 1 Un d er

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (1 ), ho w ev er, “ [a] m o t i o n to set as i d e m ay b e b ro u g h t t o s et

as i d e a j u d g m en t b as ed u p on [l ] ack o f ju ri s d i ct i o n ov er t h e p ers o n o r t h e s u b ject

m at t er[.] ” “ A ju d g m en t v o i d b ecau s e o f l ack o f ju ri s d i ct i on o f th e p ers o n o r s u b ject

m at t er m ay

b e at t ack ed a t

a n y t i me .” 1 2

Becau s e t h e Ap p el lan t b as ed h er m ot i o n t o s et as i d e t h e ju d g m en t o n l ack o f

p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct io n , s h e co u l d fi l e i t a t a n y t i m e u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (f).

9 OCGA § 1 5 -1 0-4 2.

1 0 OCGA § 1 5 -1 0 -4 3 (g ).

1 1 Ab u s h ma i s v. Er b

y , 2 8 2 Ga. 6 1 9 , 6 2 1 (2 ) (6 5 2 SE2 d 5 4 9 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

1 2 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (f) (em p h as i s s up p l i ed ). B u t s e e E u l er -S i a c S

. P. A.

(Cr ea mer S

p a ) v

. Dr a ma Ma r b l e Co

. , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 2

, 2 5 5 (1 ) (6 1 7 SE2 d 2 0 3 )

(2 0 0 5) (“ Al t h o ug h a m ot i o n t o set as id e j u d gm en t fo r l ack of j u ri s d i ct i o n m ay b e fi l ed

at an y t i m e pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (f), a wai ver o f t h e d efen s es o f l ack o f

p ers o n al ju ri s d i ct i o n an d v en u e o ccu rs u n d e r O C G A § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (h ) (1 ) (B) wh en a

Geo rg i a res i d en t w h o h as recei v ed s erv i ce o f p ro ces s fai l s to rai s e t h es e d efen s es at

t h e earl i es t o pp o rt u n i t y .”).

9[R] eg ard l es s o f wh et h er a p ro cee d i n g i s i n rem o r i n p ers o n am

, d ue

p ro ces s req u i res t h at a ch o s en m et h od o f s erv i ce be reas o n ab l y cert ai n

t o g i v e act u al no t i ce o f t h e p en d en c y o f a p ro ceed in g t o t h o s e p art i es

wh o se l i b ert y o r p ro p ert y i n t eres t s m ay be ad v ers el y affect ed b y th e

p ro ceed i n g

. Becau se n o t i ce b y p u b l i cat i on i s a n ot o ri o u s l y u n rel i ab l e

m ean s o f act u al l y

i n fo rm i n g i n t eres t ed p art i es ab o u t p en d i n g s ui t s , t he

co n s t i t ut i o n al p rereq u i s i te fo r al l o wi n g s u ch s erv i ce wh en t h e ad d res ses

o f t h o s e p art i es are u nk n o wn i s a s h o wi n g t hat reas o n ab l e d i l i g en ce h as

b een ex erci s ed i n at t em

p t i n g t o as cert ai n t h ei r wh ereab o u t s

. 1 3

Becau s e t h e s u p eri o r co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e p et i t i o n fo r cert i o rari was un t i m el y

,

we v acat e t h e s u p eri o r co urt ’ s ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e s up eri o r co u r t

.

Th e s up eri o r co u rt i s d i rect ed t o v acat e t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e m o t i o n to

s et as i d e t h e ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e m a g i s t r a t e c o urt t o ad d res s t h e

m eri t s o f t h e Ap p el lan t ’ s m o ti o n

. 1 4

2

. Bas ed o n o u r h o l d i n g i n Di v i si o n 1

, w e n e ed n o t ad d res s t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s

rem ai n i n g cl ai m s o f erro r.

Ju d g m e n t v a ca t ed a nd ca s e r ema n ded

. B a r n es

, P

. J., an d McMi l l i a n

, J.,

co n cu r

.

1 3 Ab b a Ga na v. Ab b a Ga n a , 2 5 1 Ga. 3 4 0 , 3 4 3 (1 ) (3 04 SE2 d 9 0 9 ) (1 9 8 3 ).

1 4 See Fl o yd v. Go r e

, 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 3

, 8 0 5 (1 ) (5 5 5 SE2 d 17 0 ) (2 0 01 ) (n o t i n g

t h at

, w h en co n si d eri n g a m o t i o n t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t

, “ [t ] h e t ri al co urt fi rs t p as s es

u p o n t he l eg al i t y o f n o t i ce[ ] ” an d wh et her reas o n ab l e d i l ig en ce h as b een ex erci s ed ).

10