Opinion ID: 1936351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Defendant's Culpable Conduct

Text: The last consideration is whether the defaulting parties were guilty of culpable conduct. Kirtland, supra. As stated above, the evidence is disputed as to whether the defendants had notice of the lawsuit and intentionally avoided answering the complaint filed against them. It appears from the record that the trial court denied the defendants' motions to set aside the default judgments based on this allegation. In Fries, supra, this Court held that although the trial court determined from the record that the defendant had intentionally flouted the judicial process by ignoring service of the summons and the complaint, the trial court erred by denying the motion to set aside the default judgment, because the claims were so much in dispute and because of the size of the judgment. 559 So.2d at 562. In Fries, we stated: The evidence given at the hearing on damages was largely speculative, consisting primarily of worst-case scenarios as to additional expenses that [the plaintiff] might incur.... In such a circumstance, a defendant's avoidance of service might be grounds for imposition of costs or other sanctions, but should not be grounds for a refusal to set aside such a large default judgment. 559 So.2d at 562-63. See, also Prescott v. Baker, 644 So.2d 877 (Ala.1994) (holding that the trial court erred in not setting aside the default judgment against a doctor where the doctor raised fact questions and demonstrated that the plaintiff would not suffer substantial prejudice, notwithstanding the fact that the doctor had deliberately attempted to frustrate the trial court's efforts to set a trial date). The evidence in Fries indicated that the defendant simply refused, on more than one occasion, to receive the certified mail. In this case, the plaintiffs allege that the defendants took actions, such as making telephone calls in regard to the lawsuit, that indicated that the defendants had received the summons and the complaint, but simply avoided responding to the lawsuit. The defendants deny this allegation, and the record reveals many inconsistencies on this point.