Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), 

this Memorandum Decision shall not be 

regarded as precedent or cited before 

any court except for the purpose of 

establishing the defense of res judicata, 

collateral estoppel, or the law of the 

case.

APPELLANT PRO SE: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

MARGARET WALTON WHITNEY L. MOSBY

Westfield, Indiana KARL L. MULVANEY

Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

MARGARET WALTON, )

)

Appellant-Defendant, )

)

vs. ) No. 29A04-1402-MF-87

)

CLAYBRIDGE HOMEOWNERS )

ASSOCIATION, INC., )

)

Appellee-Plaintiff. )

APPEAL FROM THE HAMILTON SUPERIOR COURT

The Honorable J. Richard Campbell, Judge

Cause No. 29D04-0801-MF-31

October 22, 2014

MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BROWN, Judge
2

Margaret Walton, pro se, appeals the trial court’s denial of her motion for relief 

from judgment under Trial Rule 60(B). Margaret raises one issue, which we revise and 

restate as whether the trial court erred in denying her motion. Claybridge Homeowners 

Association, Inc., (“Claybridge”) requests attorney fees under Ind. Appellate Rule 66(E). 

We affirm the denial of Margaret’s motion under Trial Rule 60(B) and deny Claybridge’s 

request for appellate fees.

1

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In October 2001, Claybridge filed a complaint against Margaret’s daughter Deborah

Walton, who lived in a house located on certain real property (the “Real Estate”) in the 

Claybridge subdivision in Hamilton County. Walton v. Claybridge Homeowners Ass’n, 

Inc., No. 29A05-1006-MF-399, slip op. at 1 (Ind. Ct. App. Jan. 20, 2011) (the “2011 

Opinion”), trans. denied. Deborah later filed a counterclaim against Claybridge. Id. In 

2002, Claybridge obtained an injunction against Deborah to prevent her from interfering 

with Claybridge’s performance of duties under the subdivision’s covenants.2 Id. 

On July 15, 2004, the trial court entered an order awarding damages to Claybridge 

in the amount of $248 for damages, $64,600 for attorney fees, and the cost of suit in the 

action against Deborah.3 Id. The court declined to enter a final judgment because Walton’s 

 

1 We issue an opinion today in the related cause of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Claybridge 

Homeowners Ass’n, Inc. v. Deborah M. Walton, No. 29A02-1202-MF-65 (Ind. Ct. App. Oct. 22, 2014). 

As referenced below, there have been a number of previous appeals in the litigation involving the property 

at issue in this case. 

2 This court affirmed the issuance of the injunction. 2011 Opinion at 1 n.2 (citing Walton v. 

Claybridge Homeowners Ass’n, No. 29A04-0207-CV-348 (Ind. Ct. App. July 15, 2003), trans. denied). 

3 This court affirmed the attorney fees award. 2011 Opinion at 1 n.3 (citing Walton v. Claybridge 

Homeowners Ass’n, 825 N.E.2d 818, 826 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)). 
3

counterclaim was pending. Id. On December 4, 2006, the court entered judgment in favor 

of Claybridge on Deborah’s counterclaim.4Id. 

On January 16, 2007, the trial court entered an order (the “January 2007 Judgment”) 

which provided it was a final judgment in favor of Claybridge and against Deborah. Id. 

The January 2007 Judgment was not entered in the trial court’s judgment docket. Id. at 3. 

At the time of the January 2007 Judgment, the recorded deed reflecting the owner of the 

Real Estate was a quitclaim deed (the “2001 Quitclaim Deed”) dated June 27, 2001, and 

recorded with the Hamilton County Recorder on July 10, 2001, conveying the Real Estate 

to Deborah. A quitclaim deed (the “2007 Quitclaim Deed”) dated June 28, 2001, was 

recorded with the Hamilton County Recorder on April 12, 2007. Deborah conveyed the 

Real Estate by the 2007 Quitclaim Deed to herself and Margaret as joint tenants with rights 

of survivorship. 

On October 30, 2007, Claybridge filed a Complaint to Foreclose Judicial Lien (the 

“Foreclosure Complaint”) alleging the court’s July 15, 2004 order was a valid lien against 

the Real Estate and that it was entitled to enforce the terms of the judgment. Id. The 

Foreclosure Complaint named a number of defendants, including Margaret, Fifth Third 

Mortgage Company (“Fifth Third”), which had recorded a mortgage on the Real Estate on 

April 11, 2006 (the “Fifth Third Mortgage”), and First Indiana Bank, N.A. (“First 

 

4 This court affirmed that judgment. See 2011 Opinion at 1 n.4 (citing Walton v. Claybridge 

Homeowners Ass’n., No. 29A04-0701-CV-44 (Ind. Ct. App. Oct. 19, 2007), trans. denied). There was 

another appeal, between Deborah and her title insurer, also related to this litigation. Id. at 1 n.1 (citing 

Walton v. First Am. Title Ins. Co., 844 N.E.2d 143 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied). 
4

Indiana”), which had recorded a mortgage on the Real Estate on June 16, 2006 (the “First 

Indiana Mortgage”).5 Id. The Foreclosure Complaint alleged in part: 

9. Margaret is named as a defendant in this proceeding to answer as to 

any interest which she may have in the Real Estate as a result of the 

[2007 Quitclaim Deed] dated June 28, 2001, and recorded on or about 

April 12, 2007, as Instrument No. 2007-020527 in the Office of 

Hamilton County, Indiana. The interest of Margaret, if any, is inferior 

and subordinate to that of Claybridge. 

Appellee’s Appendix at 2-3. Claybridge requested that its judgment be declared a valid 

lien against the Real Estate, a judgment of foreclosure of the lien, and an order directing 

the sale of the Real Estate. 

Also on October 30, 2007, Claybridge filed a Lis Pendens Notice stating that it had 

filed its Foreclosure Complaint for foreclosure of a judicial lien in its favor which may 

result in a sale of the Real Estate. The Lis Pendens Notice, dated and file-stamped October 

30, 2007, in the record includes a handwritten notation on the second page stating “Lp 10 

pg 84.” Appellee’s Appendix at 122. The chronological case summary (the “CCS”) 

indicates Deborah and Margaret were each personally served with the Foreclosure 

Complaint and a summons on November 7, 2007. 

On November 13, 2007, Deborah and Margaret executed a promissory note in the 

amount of $473,000 in favor of Washington Mutual Bank, and the note was secured by a 

mortgage on the Real Estate, executed by Deborah and Margaret and recorded on 

November 27, 2007 (the “JPMorgan Mortgage”).6 JPMorgan, according to its December 

 

5 The Foreclosure Complaint also named as defendants CitiBank (South Dakota), N.A., American 

Express Company, Affordable Home Renovations Inc., and Stewart Irwin, P.C. 

6

JPMorgan attached to its motion to intervene a signed copy of a settlement statement in connection 

with the closing of the loan from Washington Mutual Bank on November 13, 2007. The settlement 
5

19, 2013 motion to intervene discussed below, is the successor in interest to Washington 

Mutual Bank and the holder of the JPMorgan Mortgage. 

Deborah and Margaret, by counsel, filed an Answer on May 8, 2009, in which they 

admitted that, on or about July 15, 2004, Deborah was the owner of the Real Estate, that 

on that date the court entered a judgment in favor of Claybridge and against Deborah, that 

the judgment was a valid lien against the Real Estate, and that Claybridge was the holder 

of the judgment.7 On September 18, 2009, Claybridge filed a motion for summary 

judgment and a motion for default judgment and decree of foreclosure. Fifth Third did not 

appear or respond to the Foreclosure Complaint, the trial court issued an order of default 

judgment against Fifth Third with a file-stamped date of September 30, 2009, and the CCS 

does not indicate Fifth Third appealed the default judgment.8 Deborah moved to dismiss 

the Foreclosure Complaint on the basis that there was no valid, final judgment by which a 

judgment lien could have been established. 2011 Opinion at 1. The trial court, while 

agreeing that the July 15, 2004 order did not constitute a final judgment, nonetheless denied 

the motion to dismiss, noting the January 2007 Judgment. Id. 

On May 19, 2010, the court signed an order, which was file-stamped on May 27, 

2010, titled Summary Judgment Entry and Decree of Foreclosure in Favor of Claybridge 

(the “Foreclosure Decree”). The court entered summary judgment in favor of Claybridge 

 

statement shows that the loan amount was $473,000 and that there was or would be a disbursement for the 

payoff of the Fifth Third Mortgage in the amount of $468,982.20. 

7 The Answer stated that Deborah and Margaret were without sufficient information to admit or 

deny the allegation in paragraph 9 of the Foreclosure Complaint. 

8 The court also entered default judgment against CitiBank, American Express, Affordable Home

Renovations, and Stewart Irwin, P.C. 
6

and against Deborah, Margaret, and First Indiana, ordered a foreclosure sale of the Real 

Estate, and gave priority to Claybridge’s judgment lien over the First Indiana Mortgage. 

Id. at 2. The Foreclosure Decree ordered in part: 

1. That [Claybridge] be, and it hereby is, granted an in rem judgment 

against Deborah M. Walton, Margaret J. Walton, and First Indiana 

Bank, in the principal sum of $64,848.00, plus statutory interest from 

July 15, 2004 to and including the date of the entry of summary 

judgment, plus advances for real estate taxes, assessments, insurance 

premiums and any necessary expenses to preserve and protect the 

Real Estate [] incurred to date of Sheriff’s sale and including court 

costs, together with continuing post judgment interest at the statutory 

rate, all without relief from valuation and appraisement laws. 

2. That the [J]udgment [L]ien of [Claybridge] be, and hereby is, 

foreclosed as the first and prior lien and the equity of redemption of 

the defendants, Deborah M. Walton, Margaret J. Walton and First 

Indiana Bank, and all persons claiming under and through said 

defendant(s) is hereby foreclosed on the [Real Estate]. 

3. The Real Estate shall be sold by the Sheriff of this County to satisfy 

the sums found to be due [Claybridge] as soon as said sale can be had 

under the laws of this jurisdiction governing the sale of foreclosed 

property . . . . 

Appellant’s Appendix at 62-63. 

Deborah appealed from the Foreclosure Decree and argued that there was no final 

judgment upon which a lien could have been based, that the January 2007 Judgment did 

not give rise to a lien that Claybridge was entitled to act upon, and that the trial court erred 

in ordering foreclosure of the lien, and this court affirmed. See 2011 Opinion at 2-6. 

Specifically, in our 2011 Opinion, we determined that “the trial court’s final judgment of 

January 16, 2007 [the January 2007 Judgment], which . . . unmistakably incorporated the 

previous monetary award against [Deborah], clearly was sufficient to permit the 

establishment of a judgment lien against [her] interest in any real property in Hamilton 
7

County that could be foreclosed as to [her], or any other party who had actual notice of the 

judgment against her.” Id. at 4. In August 2013, Claybridge requested a sale of the Real 

Estate, and it was scheduled to be sold by the Hamilton County Sheriff on January 9, 2014. 

On December 19, 2013, JPMorgan filed a “Combined Motion to Intervene, to Stay 

January 9, 2014 Sheriff Sale, to Vacate Order of Sale, to Vacate the May 27, 2010 

Summary Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure, and Request for Expedited Hearing on 

Motion.” Appellee’s Appendix at 44. On December 27, 2013, Claybridge filed a response 

to JPMorgan’s motion to intervene. JPMorgan filed a reply on January 2, 2014. On 

January 8, 2014, the court stayed the scheduled sheriff’s sale. 

On January 10, 2014, the court held a hearing on JPMorgan’s motion to intervene 

at which counsel for JPMorgan and Claybridge presented arguments.9 After hearing the 

parties’ arguments, the court asked if it was correct that there was “nothing in any of these 

exhibits or documents about the title search that was done by Washington Mutual,” and the 

parties agreed that was correct. January 10, 2014 Transcript at 30. The court stated that “I 

think it comes down to the notice, the lis pendens notice, which I think should have been 

picked up by Washington Mutual before they wrote or accepted the mortgage.” Id.

On January 16, 2014, the court entered an order denying JPMorgan’s December 19, 

2013 motion to intervene. The court found that on October 30, 2007, Claybridge filed a 

Lis Pendens Notice with the Hamilton County Clerk providing notice of the January 2007 

Judgment and pending foreclosure action, that on November 13, 2007, Deborah and 

Margaret refinanced the Fifth Third Mortgage on the Real Estate and executed a new 

 

9 Deborah and Margaret were not present at the hearing. 
8

mortgage to Washington Mutual Bank, and that JPMorgan is the holder of that mortgage. 

The court found that “JPMorgan had notice of this foreclosure action by virtue of the 

properly filed and valid Lis Pendens Notice.” Appellant’s Appendix at 66. The court 

found that JPMorgan’s request to intervene six years after the filing of the Lis Pendens 

Notice was not timely. The court denied JPMorgan’s request to intervene, ordered that 

JPMorgan took its interest in the Real Estate subject to the first lien of Claybridge, denied 

JPMorgan’s request to vacate the Foreclosure Decree, and found that Claybridge had a 

judgment lien on the entirety of the Real Estate. JPMorgan filed a notice of appeal from 

the court’s January 16, 2014 order denying its December 19, 2013 motion to intervene.

10

 

On January 31, 2014, Margaret, pro se, filed a motion for relief from the Foreclosure 

Decree. Margaret argued that she was entitled to relief under Trial Rule 60(B)(3), that 

Claybridge “misrepresented the facts of the case to the court, leading the court to believe 

that the monetary judgment was against both Margaret Walton and Deborah Walton,” that 

“[a]pparently a Sheriff alleged he served the foreclosure papers by hand to Margaret [], 

an[d] this is untrue,” and that Claybridge “failed to inform the court that Margaret [] owns 

fifty percent of the [Real Estate] and her interest predates the Judgment Claybridge 

obtained against Deborah [].” Id. at 13-15. The court denied Margaret’s motion for relief. 

Margaret, pro se, filed a notice of appeal from the denial of her motion for relief from 

judgment. 

 

10 We issue a separate opinion with respect to JPMorgan’s appeal. 
9

DISCUSSION

I.

The issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Margaret’s 

motion for relief under Ind. Trial Rule 60(B). Margaret, pro se, says in her statement of 

the case that, while her motion for relief from judgment “cited Trial Rule 60(B)(3), the 

basis claimed was actually Rule 60([B])(8).” Appellant’s Brief at 3. She asserts that the 

Foreclosure Decree, the court’s January 16, 2014 order denying JPMorgan’s motion to 

intervene, and several other filings were sent to the address of the Real Estate rather than 

to her post office box address and thus that she was denied her right to present her case and 

right to appeal. Margaret further argues that there is a genuine issue of material fact 

because she has an equity interest in the Real Estate as a joint tenant with rights of 

survivorship. She also appears to argue that Claybridge was not truthful in suggesting to 

the trial court that Claybridge’s judgment predated Margaret’s interest in the Real Estate

and notes that Claybridge filed its initial lawsuit against Deborah on October 15, 2001. 

Margaret requests a hearing to show she has an equity interest in the Real Estate that 

predates Claybridge’s judgment against Deborah. 

Claybridge maintains that Margaret’s motion for relief was untimely under Trial 

Rule 60(B)(3) because the motion was filed over three years after the entry of the 

Foreclosure Decree and that she cannot show a meritorious claim or defense because 

Claybridge did not make any misrepresentation of fact, Margaret’s interest in the Real 

Estate was foreclosed by the Foreclosure Decree, and that evidence before the trial court 

showed that a conveyance was intended by the 2007 Quitclaim Deed no earlier than April 
10

2007. Claybridge argues that Margaret cites to Trial Rule 60(B)(8) for the first time on 

appeal and thus waived her claim under that sub-paragraph. Claybridge further asserts that 

Margaret’s argument that she was not served with notice, “at best, is a claim for excusable 

neglect under Rule 60(B)(1)” and that her motion is untimely under sub-paragraph (1). 

Appellee’s Brief at 21. Claybridge also argues Margaret’s motion was not filed within a 

reasonable time as required under sub-paragraph (8) because she was aware of and 

involved in the foreclosure action and did not allege a meritorious defense under Rules 

60(B)(1) or (8) because she did not did not assert her interest in the Real Estate in the 

foreclosure action and did not appeal the Foreclosure Decree. 

A grant or denial of equitable relief under Ind. Trial Rule 60 is within the discretion 

of the trial court. Wagler v. West Boggs Sewer Dist., Inc., 980 N.E.2d 363, 371 (Ind. Ct. 

App. 2012), reh’g denied, trans. denied, cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 952 (2014). We review a 

trial court’s ruling on Rule 60 motions for an abuse of discretion. Id. An abuse of 

discretion occurs when the trial court’s judgment is clearly against the logic and effect of 

the facts and inferences supporting the judgment for relief. Id. When reviewing the trial 

court’s determination, we will not reweigh the evidence. Id. Ind. Trial Rule 60(B) affords 

relief in extraordinary circumstances which are not the result of any fault or negligence on 

the part of the movant. Id. at 371-372. On a motion for relief from judgment, the burden 

is on the movant to demonstrate that relief is both necessary and just. Id. at 372. A trial 

court must balance the alleged injustice suffered by the moving party against the interests 

of the party who prevailed and society’s interest in the finality of judgment. Id. 

Ind. Trial Rule 60(B) provides in part: 
11

On motion and upon such terms as are just the court may relieve a party or 

his legal representative from a judgment, including a judgment by default, 

for the following reasons: 

(1) mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect; 

* * * * *

(3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or 

extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an 

adverse party;

* * * * *

(6) the judgment is void;

* * * * *

(8) any reason justifying relief from the operation of the 

judgment, other than those reasons set forth in subparagraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).

The motion shall be filed within a reasonable time for reasons (5), (6), (7), 

and (8), and not more than one year after the judgment, order or proceeding 

was entered or taken for reasons (1), (2), (3), and (4). A movant filing a 

motion for reasons (1), (2), (3), (4), and (8) must allege a meritorious claim 

or defense. . . . 

A Trial Rule 60(B)(1) motion does not attack the substantive, legal merits of a 

judgment, but rather addresses the procedural, equitable grounds justifying the relief from 

the finality of a judgment. Kmart v. Englebright, 719 N.E.2d 1249, 1253 (Ind. Ct. App. 

1999), trans. denied. The burden is on the movant to affirmatively demonstrate that relief 

is necessary and just. Id. A motion for relief from judgment under Rule 60(B) is not a 

substitute for a direct appeal. In re Paternity of P.S.S., 934 N .E.2d 737, 740 (Ind. 2010). 

There is no general rule as to what constitutes excusable neglect under Trial Rule 60(B)(1). 

Kmart, 719 N.E.2d at 1254. Each case must be determined on its particular facts. Id. 
12

A party making a claim under Trial Rule 60(B)(3) and alleging fraud or 

misrepresentation must demonstrate that: (1) the opposing party knew or should have 

known from the available information that the representation made was false, and (2) the 

misrepresentation was made with respect to a material fact which would change the trial 

court’s judgment.” Seleme v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, 982 N.E.2d 299, 310-311 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2012) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), reh’g denied, trans. denied. 

The trial court’s residual powers under sub-paragraph (8) may only be invoked upon 

a showing of exceptional circumstances justifying extraordinary relief. Brimhall v. 

Brewster, 864 N.E.2d 1148, 1153 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied. “Among other 

things, exceptional circumstances do not include mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect, 

which are set out in [Trial Rule] 60(B)(1).” Id. This court has explained: 

T.R. 60(B)(8) is an omnibus provision which gives broad equitable power to 

the trial court in the exercise of its discretion and imposes a time limit based 

only on reasonableness. Nevertheless, under T.R. 60(B)(8), the party seeking 

relief from the judgment must show that its failure to act was not merely due 

to an omission involving the mistake, surprise or excusable neglect. Rather 

some extraordinary circumstances must be demonstrated affirmatively. This 

circumstance must be other than those circumstances enumerated in the 

preceding subsections of T.R. 60(B). 

Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted). 

The determination of what constitutes a reasonable time under Trial Rule 60(B) 

varies with the circumstances of each case. Williams v. Tharp, 934 N.E.2d 1203, 1215 

(Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (citing Kessen v. Graft, 694 N.E.2d 317, 321 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998) 

(citation omitted), trans. denied), trans. denied. Relevant to the question of timeliness is 

prejudice to the party opposing the motion and the basis for the moving party’s delay. 

Kessen, 694 N.E.2d at 321. With respect to the requirement that the movant establish a 
13

meritorious claim or defense, a meritorious defense for the purposes of Rule 60(B) is “one 

that would lead to a different result if the case were tried on the merits.” Wagler, 980 

N.E.2d at 372 (citation omitted); see also Baxter v. State, 734 N.E.2d 642, 646 (Ind. Ct. 

App. 2000). 

In this case, Margaret’s motion for relief from the Foreclosure Decree is untimely. 

To the extent Margaret presents arguments or claims for relief under Trial Rules 60(B)(1) 

and (3), a motion for relief shall be filed not more than one year after the order was entered 

for reasons (1) and (3). See Trial Rule 60(B). The Foreclosure Decree was dated May 19, 

2010, and file-stamped on May 27, 2010, and Margaret’s motion for relief from the 

Foreclosure Decree was filed on January 31, 2014, well after the expiration of the one-year 

deadline. In addition, to the extent Margaret argues in her appellant’s brief that “the basis 

claimed was actually Rule 60([B])(8),” Appellant’s Brief at 3, we note that Margaret did 

not raise this basis in her motion for relief or develop an argument under that sub-paragraph 

on appeal and thus her claims under Rule 60(B)(8) are waived. Waiver notwithstanding,

relief may be sought under Rule 60(B)(8) for reasons “other than those reasons set forth in 

sub-paragraphs (1) [and] (3) . . . .” Trial Rule 60(B). As a result, Margaret’s claim of 

misrepresentation under sub-paragraph (3) is not available under Rule 60(B)(8), and to the 

extent Margaret’s claim of lack of notice because of faulty process constitutes a claim of 

excusable neglect under Trial Rule 60(B)(1), see In re Marriage of Ransom, 531 N.E.2d 

1171, 1173 (Ind. 1988) (noting that a lack of notice because of faulty process constitutes 

excusable neglect within the meaning of Trial Rule 60(B)(1)); Moore v. Terre Haute First 
14

Nat. Bank, 582 N.E.2d 474, 479 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991) (citing Ransom for the same 

proposition), Margaret’s claim of lack of notice is also unavailable under Rule 60(B)(8). 

Based upon the record, Margaret’s motion for relief under Trial Rule 60(B) was 

untimely and she waived her claim for relief under of Trial Rule 60(B)(8). The trial court 

did not err or abuse its discretion in denying Margaret’s motion for relief from judgment. 

II.

Claybridge requests appellate attorney fees and argues that the appeals in this case 

“are nothing but attempts by Deborah and Margaret to hinder and delay Claybridge from 

pursing its legal remedies against the Real Estate to satisfy its now seven year old 

Judgment.” Appellee’s Brief at 26. Appellate Rule 66(E) provides in part that this court 

“may assess damages if an appeal, petition, or motion, or response, is frivolous or in bad 

faith. Damages shall be in the Court’s discretion and may include attorneys’ fees.” Our 

discretion to award attorney fees under Ind. Appellate Rule 66(E) is limited to instances 

when “an appeal is permeated with meritlessness, bad faith, frivolity, harassment, 

vexatiousness, or purpose of delay.” Thacker v. Wentzel, 797 N.E.2d 342, 346 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2003). We must use extreme restraint when exercising this power because of the 

potential chilling effect upon the exercise of the right to appeal. Id. Under the 

circumstances, we decline to order Margaret to pay the attorney fees of Claybridge with 

respect to this appeal. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order denying Margaret’s 

motion for relief under Trial Rule 60(B) and deny Claybridge’s request for appellate fees.
15

Affirmed. 

BARNES, J., and BRADFORD, J., concur.