Document: 485 U.S. 80 108 S.Ct. 896 99 L.Ed.2d 75 R. "Roy" PERALTA, Appellant,v.HEIGHTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC., dba Heights Hospital, et al. No. 86-1430. Argued Nov. 30, 1987. Decided Feb. 24, 1988. Syllabus In 1982, a default judgment was entered against appellant in appellee medical center's Texas state-court suit to recover sum allegedly due under appellant's guarantee of hospital debt incurred by one his employees. The recorded, writ attachment issued, and real property sold satisfy the judgment. 1984, initiated bill review proceeding seeking, inter alia, set aside void sale, alleging that, since original service process itself showed it untimely made and, fact, he had never been personally served, law. court summary for on ground that must be shown complainant meritorious defense action which entered, conceded did not have. affirming, State Court Appeals rejected contention meritorious-defense requirement violated rights Fourteenth Amendment Federal Constitution, declaring "not onerous." Supreme denied application error, noting "No Reversible Error." Held: holding below contravenes this Court's precedents, without notice or violates Due Process Clause. See, e.g., Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 306, 70 652, 94 L.Ed. 865; Armstrong Manzo, 380 545, 85 1187, 14 62. argument suffered no harm from same would again retrial absent is untenable because, suit, might have impleaded employee whose guaranteed, worked out settlement, paid debt, himself rather than suffer its sale at constable's auction much less true value. Nor there any doubt entry substantial adverse consequences, county records, became lien impaired ability mortgage alienate property, basis issuance execution promptly sold, notice. has other remedies escape consequences an invalid should left pursue those avenues will considered here, indication raised below. Pp. 84-87. Reversed. WHITE, J., delivered opinion Court, all Members joined, except KENNEDY, who took part consideration decision case. Bruce Ian Schimmel, Houston, Tex., appellant. Jack E. Urquhart, appellees. Justice WHITE Court. 1 Medical Center, Inc. (hereafter appellee), sued Peralta February 1982 some $5,600 Citation return showing personal, but untimely, service. Appellant appear answer, July 20, amount claimed, plus attorney's fees costs. 2 June began courts obtain relief.1 second amended petition, alleged defective service2 fact served all. therefore It also abstracted recorded thereby creating cloud title, unbeknownst him, prayed vacated, abstract expunged voided, damages Center Mr. Mrs. Paul Seng-Ngan Chen, purchasers appellees here. 3 Appellee filed motion asserting such as filed, petitioner prevented proving fraud, accident, wrongful act opposing party, fault negligence petitioner's part. Although assumed purposes lapse excused proof third obtaining review, assertedly necessary, nevertheless, show defense, response motion, repeated allegations petition affidavit denying ever notified judgment3 property. Appellee's granted. Record 54. 4 Appellant's rehearing first time asserted federal constitutional claims Amendment. answered law were three attack grounds want service: appeal within 30 days judgment; error 6 months; review. being too late seek either two courses, urged only route then open appellant, available him—even assuming receive him—since defense. threatened rights. Rehearing denied. 5 On Appeals, absence valid judgment, necessary requiring argued despite allegation relief even though avenue relief, could constitutionally insist affirmed, reciting elements essential granting whether proper not. 715 S.W.2d 721 (1986). challenge because viewed Id., 722. denied, with noting, App. Juris. Statement 2a. Because appeared problematic light our we noted probable jurisdiction. 481 1067, 107 2458, 95 868 (1987). case briefed argued, now reverse.4 7 opposition proceeded through basis,5 cases, infirm. "An elementary fundamental accorded finality reasonably calculated, circumstances, apprise interested parties pendency afford them opportunity present their objections." 314, 657, 865 (1950). Failure give "the most rudimentary demands law." 550, 1190, 62 (1965). See World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. Woodson, 444 286, 291, 100 559, 564, 490 (1980); Mathews Eldridge, 424 319, 333, 96 893, 902, 47 18 (1976); Zenith Radio Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 100, 110, 89 1562, 1569, 23 129 (1969); Pennoyer Neff, (5 Otto) 714, 733, 24 565 (1878). 8 nevertheless held, do, aside, required apparently hence But reasoning untenable. As asserts, debt. He preferred sell order raise funds auction. 9 serious consequences. property,6 Even if yet occurred, encumbered it; state procedures enforcing liens are subject strictures process. Mitchell W.T. Grant 416 600, 604, 1895, 1898, 40 406 (1974); Hodge Muscatine County, 196 276, 281, 25 237, 239, 49 477 (1905). Here, assume him ensuing occurred meaningful manner given heard. supra, U.S., 552, S.Ct., 1191. 10 insists avenues. This argument, litigation disputes, offered alternative affirming We required, however, entertain submissions, particularly when they below, especially disinclined become involved resolving disputes about presented courts. shall deal came here affirm reverse based relied 11 position remedy all, unavailable shown. appears us decided basis. There mention remedies, suggestion sought wrong remedy; seems obvious shown, found true, offending vacated. held stand By reason Clause Amendment, plainly 12 Where person deprived contrary basic tenets process, "it answer say particular led result adequate upon merits." Coe Armour Fertilizer Works, 237 413, 424, 35 625, 629, 59 1027 (1915). observed 1191, "wip[ing] slate clean . restored occupied place." 13 KENNEDY Rule Civil Procedure 329b(f) provides: "On expiration trial plenary power, cannot sufficient cause, allowed law; provided may correct clerical record render nunc pro tunc 316, sign previous signed after court's power expired." contained effected more 90 issuance, 101 (repealed effective Jan. 1, 1988). 41. agree citation lost official status days. 90th day nullity, depriving personal jurisdiction over defendant. Lewis Lewis, 667 910, 911 (Tex.App.1984); Kem Krueger, 626 143, 144 (Tex.App.1981); Lemothe Cimbalista, 236 681, 682 (Tex.Civ.App.1951). 239a requires mailed defendant address party taking file clerk. neither these requirements fulfilled. Further examination indicates challenging appellate jurisdiction, Motion Dismiss 3-4, explicit constitutionality pass issue. Charleston Savings Loan Assn. Alderson, 324 182, 185, 65 624, 627, 857 (1945); Richmond Newspapers, Virginia, 448 555, 562, n. 4, 2814, 2820, 973 (1980). Treating papers certiorari, grant petition. continue refer appellee. oral decision, truth Tr. Oral Arg. 39. Under entitles creditor debtor's matter right hearing, can recorded. Tex.Prop.Code Ann. §§ 52.002, 52.004(a) (1984 Supp.1988). Such "constitutes located indexed, including acquired recording indexing," § 52.001, holder superior interest later purchaser. Masterson Adams, 197 154, 156 (Tex.Civ.App.1946).

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