Opinion ID: 1679677
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: late answer

Text: Schlake also assigns as error the district court's overruling of his objection to Jacobsen and the Clinic's late answer. The parties do not dispute that the answer was filed late. At issue is whether the trial court properly overruled Schlake's objection. A party in default may be permitted to answer upon such terms as to the payment of costs as may be prescribed by the court, at any time before judgment is rendered. Anest v. Chester B. Brown Co., 169 Neb. 330, 99 N.W.2d 615 (1959). And where it is apparent that the party in default has a meritorious defense to the action, the trial court must permit the answer to be filed. The court cannot deprive a suitor of a substantial right under the plea of an exercise of discretion. Id. Such matters rest largely within the discretion of the trial court, and an abuse of discretion must affirmatively appear to justify a reversal on such a ground. Id. A judicial abuse of discretion exists when a judge, within the effective limits of authorized judicial power, elects to act or refrain from action, but the selected option results in a decision which is untenable and unfairly deprives a litigant of a substantial right or a just result in matters submitted for disposition through a judicial system. State v. Fahlk, 246 Neb. 834, 524 N.W.2d 39 (1994). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the late answer.