Opinion ID: 500125
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 5 This case is an appeal from the District Court's denial of defendants' Motion to Vacate Judgment under Rule 60(b) or in the alternative, Motion for New Trial under Rule 59. On April 5, 1985, the District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Thomas R. Brett, Judge, entered its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in the present case, holding in plaintiff's favor and awarding plaintiff $11,180,000.00 in damages, plus costs and attorney fees. Throughout the litigation, defense of the case was virtually non-existent due to defendants' failure to cooperate--or even communicate--with their hired counsel. Defense counsel appeared at trial but was unable to present any serious arguments because of his lack of familiarity with the case, through no fault of his own. Upon the court's entry of judgment in plaintiff's favor, defendants requested that the court either vacate the judgment or grant a new trial. Defendants argued before the District Court, first, that they had not been heard at trial because of mistake, inadvertence, surprise and excusable neglect, and second, that the damages awarded plaintiff were inconsistent with both Oklahoma law and the parties' agreement. The court denied defendants' motions, finding that defendants were guilty of gross carelessness in their handling of the case. It is from that ruling that defendants now appeal.