Opinion ID: 1250930
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relief from judgment based on fraud under SDCL 15-6-60(b)(3)

Text: Williams served his first motion to amend judgment upon Sherman and his counsel on January 30, 1989, approximately four months after judgment was entered. Williams argues that since service was made within the one year time limit prescribed by SDCL 15-6-60(b), the motion was timely made. He alleges that filing, which took place seventeen months after judgment, is irrelevant in computing the appropriate time under the statute. SDCL 15-6-5(d) commands that all papers, excluding trial briefs, if not filed before service, be filed with the court, together with proof of such service, forthwith upon such service. (emphasis added). This statute was amended in 1981 (a codification of Supreme Court Rule 72-4 of January 1, 1973, amending RCP Rule 5(d)) to add the following language: The foregoing requirement of filing applies to the notice of filing of an order and the notice of entry of a judgment together with proof of service thereof, both of which shall be filed forthwith; if not filed within ten days after service thereof, the time of service shall be deemed to be the date of filing of the notice and proof of service. SL 1981, ch. 379. Sherman claims that since Williams did not file within ten days of service, this language mandates the date of service be deemed the date of filing. Therefore, he argues, the date of service becomes February 26, 1990, outside the one year provision of SDCL 15-6-60(b)(3). This argument fails. First of all by its clear language, the ten day requirement refers only to the notice of filing of an order and the notice of an entry of judgment. There is no indication that the ten day requirement is intended to apply to any other motions. SDCL 15-6-5(d) further provides: In the event of failure to file any paper required to be filed as herein specified, the adverse party upon proof of the omission so to file shall be entitled without notice to an order requiring such papers to be filed within a time to be specified in the order, and such order may likewise provide that upon such failure so to file such papers, the action or proceeding shall be dismissed without prejudice and that no new action or proceeding may be commenced without payment of reasonable terms to be fixed by the court. In the event a paper is not filed forthwith after service, the adverse party has a remedy. It may seek an order to compel filing or may seek dismissal. Sherman and his counsel had actual knowledge of the motion when it was served on January 30, 1989. Sherman could have moved to compel filing pursuant to SDCL 15-6-5(d), but apparently chose not to exercise this right. Sherman was not prejudiced as a result of the failure to immediately file. Also, this court rejected Sherman's argument in Emblem Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Discovery Corp., 90 S.D. 575, 243 N.W.2d 799 (1976). There the summons and complaint were served on defendant on January 28, 1975. Plaintiff filed the complaint nearly six weeks later. Default judgment was entered the same date. Defendant then served and filed an answer and a motion to set aside the judgment. Defendant claimed that the time for answering ran from the date of filingnot the date of service (despite SDCL 15-6-12(a) which requires that the defendant shall serve his answer within thirty days after the service of the complaint upon him)since the filing occurred more than ten days after service. This court rejected that argument, finding that the time period for answering commenced when the service was made. Id. 243 N.W.2d at 801. Since the defendant did not answer within thirty days of service upon him, he was entitled to no relief from the default judgment. South Dakota civil procedure rules require only that filing take place forthwith, not before or contemporaneous with service. Id. at 800. The reasoning of that case applies equally well here. A civil action in South Dakota is commenced when service is made upon the adverse party. SDCL 15-6-3; 15-2-30; 15-2-31. SDCL 15-6-60(b) requires a motion to amend the judgment be made within a reasonable time, at most one year after the judgment. Such a motion is madethe action on that motion is commencedwhen it is served upon the adverse party. SDCL 15-6-3. Williams served the motion to amend judgment approximately four months after judgment was entered, well within the one year provision of SDCL 15-6-60(b)(3). This was sufficient, when coupled with Sherman's misrepresentation of his corporate status, to allow the trial court to amend the judgment under SDCL 15-6-60(b)(3) and hold Sherman personally liable. Therefore, under the fact situation of this case, Williams' failure to file forthwith was not fatal.