Opinion ID: 2155461
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Motion for Relief From the Summary Judgment

Text: [¶ 21] The defendants next challenge the court's denial of their request to file responsive pleadings and for relief from the summary judgment. The court based its denial of the requested relief on its conclusion that the defendants had received notice and an opportunity to respond, but failed to do so. [¶ 22] There are several issues presented. First, we review the trial court's original decision granting a motion for service by publication for abuse of discretion. Margani v. Sanders, 453 A.2d 501, 505 (Me.1982). We next address the court's factual finding that the defendants received actual notice. Finally, in light of the allegations of fraud by the moving party, we review the court's legal conclusion that actual notice was sufficient. The court's factual findings are reviewed for clear error and legal conclusions are reviewed de novo. QAD Investors, Inc. v. Kelly, 2001 ME 116, ¶ 13, 776 A.2d 1244, 1248. [¶ 23] Regarding the court's initial order granting the motion for service by publication, M.R. Civ. P. 4(g)(1) provides, [t]he court, on motion upon a showing that service cannot with due diligence be made by another prescribed method, shall order service by publication. See also 1 Field, McKusick & Wroth, Maine Civil Practice § 4.12 at 95 (2d ed. 1970) (Publication is available ... only upon failure after using due diligence to get service by another prescribed method more likely to give actual notice to the defendant, and then only upon order of court.). Based on the information before the court when it first adjudicated the motion for service by publication, we find no abuse of discretion in the court's initial decision to grant the motion on November 5, 2001. [¶ 24] We turn to the defendants' second contention, that is, that actual notice will not suffice. Because actual notice is the ultimate goal of any form of service, the discovery of a technical defect in service will not ordinarily negate the notice when actual notice is accomplished. See Peoples Heritage Sav. Bank v. Pease, 2002 ME 82, ¶ 14, 797 A.2d 1270, 1275 (`If the defendant has received actual notice by the method of service used, the court should hesitate in finding the service insufficient for some technical noncompliance ....') (quoting 1 Field, McKusick & Wroth, § 4.5 at 69). We have held, for instance, that technical noncompliance with M.R. Civ. P. 5(b), which requires service on a represented party's attorney, is harmless error when a defendant has timely actual notice and suffers no prejudice. Moores v. Doyle, 2003 ME 105, ¶ 10, 829 A.2d 260, 263; cf. Peoples Heritage Sav. Bank v. White, 1997 ME 204, ¶ 4, 704 A.2d 318, 319 (holding that the defendant's ultimate participation in the action by appearing at a conference with the court without raising service resulted in a waiver of claims relating to insufficiency of process). [¶ 25] Here, there is no dispute that service by publication had the intended effect: the defendants learned that a suit had been filed against them. All three defendants averred in their affidavits that they learned about the complaint from their mother, who read about it in the paper. Their attorney was then in regular contact with the plaintiffs' attorney, who provided copies of all documents and later gave notice of the plaintiffs' intent to request a default judgment. Similarly, notwithstanding the failure of all defendants to file appearances or answers, the plaintiffs provided the motion for summary judgment to the defendants' attorney and to Johnson. Thus, the court did not err in its factual finding that the defendants did receive notice. In ordinary circumstances, such actual notice is legally sufficient to trigger the defendants' responsibility to respond to the suit. [¶ 26] The defendants assert, however, that notwithstanding their actual notice, the plaintiffs' alleged misconduct in seeking to serve the defendants by publication was so egregious that the court should have declined to recognize the notice. Thus, the question is not whether actual notice is sufficient when there is a defect in the method of service, but rather, whether service by publication obtained through fraudulent representations to the court will be countenanced. [¶ 27] The unique nature of notice by publication demands that the applicant for such notice be scrupulous in the exercise of diligence and in representations made to the court. [12] Because service by publication should occur only when notice cannot be accomplished by other means, courts must be vigilant in assuring that this method of service is not obtained through fraud. See Robinson Roofing & Remodeling, Inc. v. Clayton (Ex parte Robinson Roofing & Remodeling, Inc.), 709 So.2d 444, 446 (Ala.1997) ([A] judgment procured by fraud upon the court itself may be set aside ....); In re Estate of Roedell, 253 Iowa 438, 112 N.W.2d 842, 844 (Iowa 1962) (A judgment or decree based on jurisdictional fraud is void.). We now hold that, to assure the integrity of the court's actions in allowing service by publication, a court may decline to accept as legally sufficient service by publication that was obtained through fraudulent means, even when that service results in actual notice. Cf. Bonneville Billing v. Whatley, 949 P.2d 768, 773 (Utah Ct.App. 1997) ([I]f a plaintiff falsely avers or intentionally misleads a court to believe that he or she has exercised [due] diligence when he or she has not done so, the court... never had jurisdiction ....); Jones v. Buford, 359 P.2d 232, 234 (Okla.1961) ([A]ctual knowledge of a proceeding to obtain a tax deed does not relieve the person seeking the deed from complying with the applicable statutes relating to notice.). [¶ 28] In the matter before us, the defendants raised substantial allegations of fraud, which the plaintiffs disputed. Although the court held a hearing, it did not address the issue of fraud because it determined that actual notice sufficed. We conclude, however, that in the fact of allegations of fraud, the finding of actual notice is not enough. When substantial allegations of fraud in pursuit of service by publication have been raised, the court must determine whether the allegations are accurate before determining whether actual notice is sufficient. Service by publication that is obtained through a fraud on the court should not be countenanced and will ordinarily require new service. See Robinson Roofing & Remodeling, 709 So.2d at 446; Roedell, 112 N.W.2d at 844; Bonneville Billing, 949 P.2d at 773. In contrast, inaccuracies or errors that do not constitute fraud will not ordinarily result in treating actual notice as a nullity. See Benjamin v. Grosnick, 999 F.2d 590, 592 (1st Cir.1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1112, 114 S.Ct. 1057, 127 L.Ed.2d 377 (1994) (holding that a party is not prejudiced by defective service when he or she receives actual notice of a lawsuit and has time to answer it). [13] [¶ 29] The plaintiffs vigorously disputed the defendants' allegations of fraud. In the absence of a factual determination regarding the allegations of fraud, we cannot determine whether the finding of sufficient service upon which the court based its denial of the motion for relief should be affirmed or set aside. Accordingly, we vacate the denial of the motion for relief from judgment and remand to the trial court for findings on the allegations of fraud in the motion for service by publication. Because the trial judge has since moved to active retired status, and may not be available to hear this matter, any judge may hear the matter on remand and may, in the discretion of that judge, take additional evidence on the question of the basis for service by publication. The entry is: Motion to dismiss the appeal denied. Order of October 10, 2002, denying extension of time to file appeal vacated. Denial of the motion for relief from summary judgment vacated. Case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.