Opinion ID: 1696757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: personal jurisdiction in county court

Text: Trackwell first contends that because the county court did not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the amount in controversy, it could not have acquired personal jurisdiction over him. But the two are not synonymous. See Concordia Teachers College v. Neb. Dept. of Labor, 252 Neb. 504, 563 N.W.2d 345 (1997) (concluding that district court had personal jurisdiction but not subject-matter jurisdiction). Personal jurisdiction is the power of a tribunal to subject and bind a particular entity to its decisions. Id. While the lack of subject-matter jurisdiction cannot be waived nor the existence of subject-matter jurisdiction conferred by the consent or conduct of the parties, lack of personal jurisdiction may be waived and such jurisdiction conferred by the conduct of the parties. Id. There is no merit to Trackwell's contention that the county court could not have acquired personal jurisdiction over him if it lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter. But Trackwell also contends that the county court failed to obtain personal jurisdiction because service of process was defective in that court. For purposes of personal jurisdiction, the voluntary appearance of a party is equivalent to service of process. Vopalka v. Abraham, 260 Neb. 737, 619 N.W.2d 594 (2000). One who invokes the power of the court on an issue other than the court's jurisdiction over one's person makes a general appearance so as to confer on the court personal jurisdiction over that person. Nebraska Methodist Health Sys. v. Dept. of Health, 249 Neb. 405, 543 N.W.2d 466 (1996). While Trackwell was proceeding pro se, he filed a motion for an order to recuse the county court judge and to require that Hunt's attorney withdraw over a conflict of interest. Moreover, he filed two motions for a continuance in the county court, and we have specifically held that a motion for a continuance constitutes a general appearance that confers jurisdiction over the moving party. See In re Interest of Rondell B., 249 Neb. 928, 546 N.W.2d 801 (1996). Most importantly, he filed an answer generally denying the allegations, invoking the court's power and making a general appearance. See Concordia Teachers College v. Neb. Dept. of Labor, supra (concluding that defendants' amended answer invoking court's power on issue other than personal jurisdiction conferred on court personal jurisdiction). Trackwell's answer and various requests for relief invoking the court's power subjected him to the personal jurisdiction of the county court.