Opinion ID: 1921086
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Iowa R.Civ.P. 236 states in relevant part:

Text: On motion and for good cause shown, and upon such terms as the court prescribes, but not ex parte, the court may set aside a default or the judgment thereon, for mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or unavoidable casualty. The purpose of this rule is to allow a determination of litigation on the merits, where appropriate, as opposed to an ex parte adjudication when the absence of opposing litigant is due to his nonprejudicial inadvertence or excusable mistake. See Gordon v. Gordon, 200 N.W.2d 527, 528 (Iowa 1972), and citations. On the other hand, In re Estate of Staab, 192 N.W.2d 804, 807 (Iowa 1971), holds the burden is upon defendant-movant to plead and prove such good cause as will not only permit but require a finding of mistake, inadvertence, suprise, excusable neglect or unavoidable casualty. And requisite good cause is a sound, effective and truthful reason  something more than an excuse, plea, apology, extenuation or some justification for the resulting effect. Furthermore, in granting or denying a motion to set aside a default the trial court is vested with wide discretion and its findings on disputed facts are entitled to the same weight as a jury verdict. See Garrison v. Garrison, 179 N.W.2d 466, 471 (Iowa 1970). In other words, this proceeding is at law and we are bound by trial court's findings of fact if supported by substantial evidence. See Walters v. Williams, 203 N. W.2d 383, 385 (Iowa 1973). Factually analogous to the case not before us is Haynes v. Ruhoff, 261 Iowa 1279, 157 N.W.2d 914 (1968). There a nonresident defendant, after involvement in an Iowa highway accident, first received from the local sheriff an information for defendant's signature relative to a proposed traffic violation charge. Thereafter, by registered mail, return receipt requested, defendant received notice as to a plaintiff initiated civil action against him for damages. Ruhoff neither consulted an attorney nor requested his insurance carrier to act in the matter. In support of a motion to set aside the default defendant testified he and his insurance agent assumed the civil action notice was another attempt to secure his aid in the pursuit of a criminal action against plaintiff. Trial court set aside the default. In reversing we said, 261 Iowa at 1286, 157 N.W.2d at 918: It may be that defendant did show grounds for confusion, but we cannot hold that a lack of understanding as to the legal effect of a notice in a civil action will excuse one from taking affirmative action to obtain an understanding and an attempt to appear as required. To permit one to set aside a default when he admits he took no reasonable steps to appear and defend would abrogate completely the rules of civil procedure requiring appearances within a specified time and reward one's neglect or inattention to legal notices properly served upon him. We are satisfied defendant failed to show anything more than an excuse, a plea, apology, extenuation, or an explanation for his failure to appear as required by the statute. He failed to show any effort to resolve his confusion or seek legal advice as he did when he received a subpoena previously. In other words, he chose to ignore this notice and decide for himself its import. This is not excusable neglect   . The above holding is equally applicable to each defendant in the case here on appeal. Moreover, there is no plausible basis upon which to hold defendants in the case at hand clearly intended to defend against the Carroll County action but failed to do so because of a misplaced reliance on another, i. e., their insurance carrier. Trial court instantly found failure on the part of defendants Gute and Nagl to timely appear in the Carroll County case, after personal service of original notice upon them, was due to inexcusable nonfeasance on their part. See Haynes v. Ruhoff, 261 Iowa at 1284, 157 N.W.2d at 917. Such finding is amply supported by the record. We find no abuse of discretion by trial court in overruling defendants' motion to set aside the order of default or judgment entered thereon for plaintiffs in this case.