Opinion ID: 1804930
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: collateral contests

Text: Williams next contends that even if the attachment was invalid, the other parties should not have been allowed to contest its validity. Williams asserts that since Ronald Willman did not object to the lack of a bond at the attachment hearing, he was estopped from later raising that issue. With regard to VonSeggern, Overland National Bank, and Walter Willman, Williams argues that they lack standing to contest the validity of the attachment. Since, as established above, the lack of a bond is a jurisdictional defect, we are confronted with the issue of when a jurisdictional defect in a prejudgment attachment can be raised, and by whom. A judgment entered by a court which lacks subject matter jurisdiction is void. Marshall v. Marshall, 240 Neb. 322, 482 N.W.2d 1 (1992). Also, it is the longstanding rule in Nebraska that such a void judgment may be attacked at any time in any proceeding. Id.; Drennen v. Drennen, 229 Neb. 204, 426 N.W.2d 252 (1988); Lammers Land & Cattle Co. v. Hans, 213 Neb. 243, 328 N.W.2d 759 (1983). It may be impeached in any action, direct or collateral. Marshall v. Marshall, supra ; Stanton v. Stanton, 146 Neb. 71, 18 N.W.2d 654 (1945); Hassett v. Durbin, 132 Neb. 315, 271 N.W. 867 (1937). See, also, Shade v. Kirk, 227 Neb. 775, 420 N.W.2d 284 (1988). That is because a void judgment is in reality no judgment at all. Marshall v. Marshall, supra . The collateral attack in this action was proper. The court, therefore, also properly refused to strike those portions of VonSeggern's, Overland National Bank's, and Walter Willman's answers which raised the invalidity of Williams' attachment.