Opinion ID: 1842881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: The Default Judgment Issue

Text: Gulf Shores argues that the trial court reversibly erred by refusing to enter a default judgment against A.A. Wickliffe & Company, an area sales representative of Parkson. Wickliffe participated in discovery and voir dire, but, before trial, the trial court allowed Wickliffe's counsel to withdraw. All parties filed motions for default judgment against Wickliffe, which the trial court neglected to grant or otherwise act upon until after the jury had returned its verdict. While we do not condone the trial court's neglect of pending motions, we find no reversible error in the trial court's failure to grant Gulf Shores its requested default judgment against Wickliffe. The cases Gulf Shores cites contain language to the effect that a trial court has no choice but to enter a default judgment when requested to do so in a proper case. See, e.g., Roberts v. Wettlin, 431 So.2d 524 (Ala.1983). However, despite this language to the contrary, it is well settled that an entry of a default judgment under Rule 55(b)(2), Ala. R.Civ.P., is a matter entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court. Roberts, at 526; and see, McBride v. McBride, 380 So.2d 886 (Ala.Civ.App.1980), and Welch v. G.F.C. Credit Corp., 336 So.2d 1346 (Ala. Civ.App.1976). [4] Also, a movant is not entitled to a default judgment as a matter of right. Welch, 336 So.2d at 1349. Further, we note that mandamus is the proper vehicle for challenging a trial court's refusal to enter a default judgment, because such a refusal is not a final judgment, which is requisite for an appeal as of right. McBride, 380 So.2d at 888. Additionally, on petition for writ of mandamus, the petitioner must show a clear abuse of discretion to warrant an appellate court's ordering an entry of default judgment. Based on the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the trial court based on the jury verdict in favor of Harbert, ESA, and Parkson. AFFIRMED. HORNSBY, C.J., and MADDOX, [5] SHORES, STEAGALL, KENNEDY and INGRAM, JJ., concur.