Case Name: Paul A. LUNDE, Plaintiff and Appellee v. Brad Michael PAULSON, Defendant and Appellant
Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: North Dakota
Decision Date: 2019-01-15
Citations: 921 N.W.2d 402
Docket Number: No. 20180248
Parties: Paul A. LUNDE, Plaintiff and Appellee
v.
Brad Michael PAULSON, Defendant and Appellant
Judges: 
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 921
Pages: 402–402

Head Matter:
Paul A. LUNDE, Plaintiff and Appellee
v.
Brad Michael PAULSON, Defendant and Appellant
No. 20180248
Supreme Court of North Dakota.
Filed January 15, 2019
Scott A. Hager, Bismarck, ND, for plaintiff and appellee.
Brad Paulson, self-represented, Maddock, ND, defendant and appellant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
[¶1] Brad Paulson appealed from a default judgment ordering him to pay $1.5 million in damages to Paul Lunde stemming from a May 2015 physical altercation. Paulson argues he was not properly served either the summons and complaint nor the notice of motion for default judgment.
[¶2] Rule 60(b), N.D.R.Civ.P., is the exclusive means for opening a default judgment and, when made for reasons of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, must be made within one year after a default judgment has been entered. Flemming v. Flemming , 2010 ND 212, ¶ 3, 790 N.W.2d 762 ; N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(c). We conclude there are no irregularities on the face of the default judgment, and we affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7). See Burgard v. Burgard , 2013 ND 27, ¶ 11, 827 N.W.2d 1 ("[w]hen a default judgment is appealed, rather than a district court's order regarding a N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) motion to vacate the default judgment, we review the default judgment to determine if irregularities appear on the face of the judgment").
[¶3] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
Jon J. Jensen
Lisa Fair McEvers
Daniel J. Crothers
Jerod E. Tufte