Opinion ID: 2089325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Husband Fails to Appear Default Judgment Entered

Text: On November 17, 1994, the Husband did not appear. Upon reviewing the record of mailed notices, the Family Court noted that in a recently filed custody petition, the Husband listed his residence as 3 East 39th Street. In light of this fact, the Family Court questioned the Wife as to why notice of her petition was sent to the Husband at the French Street address. The Wife responded that the Husband was living above the restaurant on French Street. The Family Court concluded that the Husband had received notice of the hearing. It also concluded that the Husband had voluntarily elected not to appear. Therefore, the Family Court proceeded with the hearing in the Husband's absence. Notwithstanding that the notice for the November 17th hearing was to Modify Custody Order only, the Family Court conducted a hearing on the Wife's petition to hold the Husband in contempt for nonpayment to her of the property settlement proceeds. After hearing testimony from the Wife, the Family Court entered a default judgment against the Husband in the amount of $25,920, plus interest from November 17, 1994, the date of the judgment. In addition, the Family Court found the Husband's contempt to be of a flagrant nature. It ordered the Husband to serve weekend sentences at Gander Hill Prison until the entire obligation was paid. The Family Court issued a capias warrant for the Husband's arrest. The Husband learned about the capias warrant during a meeting with his probation officer on another matter. The Husband was taken into custody as a result of the outstanding capias warrant. After his arrest, the Husband spent several days in Gander Hill Prison until his brother posted bail.