Opinion ID: 1191255
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court was correct in declaring the default judgment void

Text: Plaintiff and defendant both argue that the trial court, on it's own motion, is without authority to declare void, a judgment rendered by another judge. Hudson v. Ely, 36 Okl. 576, 129 P. 11 (1912). Nor, the plaintiff argues, can a mere stranger to a previous judgment successfully prosecute a motion to have the judgment declared void. Cook v. First National Bank, 110 Okl. 111, 236 P. 883 (1925). Plaintiff reasons that the defendant is a stranger to the default judgment because it chose to be dismissed from the case in which the default was rendered. Title 12, O.S. 1971, § 1038 provides that a void judgment may be vacated at any time on motion of any person affected thereby. The insurance company claims that it has never asked that the default judgment be declared void, merely that the judgment should be ignored since it is a nullity. Defendant's argument is supported by the general rule that a void judgment is no judgment at all. Le Clair v. Calls Him, 106 Okl. 247, 233 P. 1087 (1925). Arnold v. Joines, 50 Okl. 4, 14, 150 P. 130, 133 (1915), holds: A void judgment is, in legal effect, no judgment at all. By it no rights are divested; from it no rights can be obtained. Being worthless, in itself, all proceedings founded upon it are necessarily equally worthless, and have no effect whatever upon the parties or matters in question. A void judgment neither binds nor bars anyone. All acts performed under it, and all claims flowing out of it, are absolutely void. The parties attempting to enforce it are trespassers. The insurance company argues that even though the judgment is void, the insurance company or any other person affected by the judgment must move to have it vacated. Defendant further argues that the court erred in vacating the judgment on its own motion. The insurance company will not be given the opportunity to defeat its insured's claim on the above stated grounds. The insurance company could wait until this Court has ruled on appeal, the suit on the contract has been commenced in the trial court, and then file its motion to vacate the default judgment, and also ask that the contract action be dismissed because it is based on a void judgment. We will not countenance such a situation. The default judgment is void on the face of the pleadings, and we will not give it effect by recognizing it.