Opinion ID: 2130275
Heading Depth: 1
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Heading: affidavits relative to a special appearance

Text: This court has held that a motion, as the term is used in § 25-1244, relates to preliminary, collateral and interlocutory matters. Banks v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 142 Neb. 823, 834, 8 N.W.2d 185, 191 (1943). Cf. State v. Howard, 184 Neb. 461, 168 N.W.2d 370 (1969) (affidavit may be used to show unavailability of a witness and permit use of the absent witness' prior testimony). Before any other pleading or motion, a defendant may file a special appearance for the sole purpose of objecting to a court's assertion or exercise of personal jurisdiction over the defendant. West Town Homeowners Assn. v. Schneider, 221 Neb. 674, 380 N.W.2d 265 (1986); Swick v. Coslor, 194 Neb. 781, 235 N.W.2d 639 (1975). A special appearance may be based on the absence of a defendant's amenability to process issued by a Nebraska court. See, West Town Homeowners Assn., supra ; Wendt v. Yant Construction Co., 125 Neb. 277, 249 N.W. 599 (1933). See, also, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-516.01(2) (Reissue 1985): Prior to filing any other pleading or motion, a special appearance may be made for the purpose of objecting to the jurisdiction of the court over the person of the defendant. The defendant's assertion of a claim for affirmative relief by way of counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim waives any objection that the court erred in overruling the special appearance. The defendant's participation in proceedings on any issue other than jurisdiction over the person waives any objection that the court erred in overruling the special appearance except the objection that the defendant is not amenable to process issued by a court of this state. A special appearance is analogous to a plea in abatement. West Town Homeowners Assn., supra ; Insurance Co. of North America v. Kunin, 175 Neb. 260, 121 N.W.2d 372 (1963). A plea in abatement does not go to the merits of an action, but, by presentation of facts extrinsic to the merits of an action, demonstrates irregularities or circumstances which preclude further prosecution of the action or require suspension of the proceedings. See, State v. Ludwig, 143 Neb. 278, 9 N.W.2d 292 (1943); White v. Pottawatomie County, 199 Okla. 103, 184 P.2d 446 (1947); United States v. Brodson, 234 F.2d 97 (7th Cir.1956). An affidavit may be used to prove or disprove proper service when a special appearance is based on a defect in the service of process. Erdman v. National Indemnity Co., 180 Neb. 133, 141 N.W.2d 753 (1966); State v. Tautges, Rerat & Welch, 146 Neb. 439, 20 N.W.2d 232 (1945); Johnson v. Carpenter, 77 Neb. 49, 108 N.W. 161 (1906). We hold that a special appearance, which is preliminary and collateral to determining the merits of an action, is a pleading within the purview of § 25-1244. Consequently, in a hearing on a special appearance, an affidavit may be used to prove or disprove the factual basis for a court's assertion or exercise of personal jurisdiction over a defendant. Therefore, the district court erred in excluding the affidavits offered by Lerner to support his special appearance. In sum and substance, the excluded affidavits emphasize that Lerner was never physically present in Nebraska and that Lerner never tried to solicit or otherwise develop any business in Nebraska [nor] advertised [his] services in Nebraska, but definitely underscore the fact that Lerner and Gould contracted for Lerner's professional services as a specialist in occupational medicine pertinent to Gould and its employees. Therefore, in disposing of the present appeals, inasmuch as the excluded affidavits contained appropriate information on the jurisdictional issue, we consider the affidavits excluded by the district court.