Opinion ID: 1193881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Service on Attorney

Text: After the district court found that it had personal jurisdiction over CRB through sufficient service of process, an order was issued setting an informal hearing on the substantive issues contained in the paternity petition. CRB contends that service of the notice of the informal hearing on his attorney was improper since the attorney had entered a limited appearance strictly for the purpose of challenging jurisdiction and that once the motions contesting personal jurisdiction had been denied, the attorney had completed his representation. Consequently, CRB asserts that he was denied due process since he did not have notice of the hearing and could not contest the merits of the paternity petition. Historically under code pleading, a party contesting service of process was required to make a special appearance to assert such a defense. UMWA Local 1972 v. Decker Coal Co., 774 P.2d 1274, 1282 (Wyo. 1989) quoting State ex rel. Sheehan v. District Court of Fourth Judicial District, in and for Johnson County, 426 P.2d 431, 435-36 (Wyo.1967). Following the adoption of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, the distinction between special and general appearances was eliminated. Colley v. Dyer, 821 P.2d 565, 567 n. 2 (Wyo.1991). Today, W.R.C.P. 12(b) allows a defendant, at his option, to assert the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction by motion and, indeed, he must do so or it is waived. State ex rel. Sheehan, 426 P.2d at 436. Thus there no longer exists, under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, provision for special or limited appearances for the purposes of challenging jurisdiction. In this case, once CRB's attorney had made an appearance on his behalf in the district court, the Uniform Rules for District Courts of the State of Wyoming came into play. Specifically, Rule 102 sets forth the following: Appearance and withdrawal of counsel. (a) (1) An attorney appears in a case: (A) By attending any proceeding as counsel for any party; (B) By permitting the attorney's name to appear on any pleadings or motions; or (C) By a written appearance. (2) An appearing attorney shall be considered as representing the party or parties for whom the attorney appears for all purposes. (b) All pleadings shall contain the name, address and telephone number of counsel or, if pro se, the party. All notices shall be mailed to the address provided. Each party or counsel shall give notice in writing of any change of address to the clerk and other parties. (c) Counsel will not be permitted to withdraw from a case except upon court order. Except in the case of extraordinary circumstances, the court shall condition withdrawal of counsel upon the substitution of other counsel by written appearance. In the alternative, the court shall allow withdrawal upon a statement submitted by the client acknowledging the withdrawal of counsel for the client, and stating a desire to proceed pro se. (Emphasis added). By filing a written appearance in the district court, CRB's attorney appeared for all purposes related to this particular proceeding, and, under Rule 102, he could not withdraw without the approval of the district court. There is nothing in the record, and CRB has not alleged, that his attorney ever made any request to the district court to withdraw. Therefore, after the district court had ruled adversely on the jurisdictional question, CRB's attorney was still his counsel for all matters related to this proceeding. Since CRB was still represented by counsel, the service of the notice of the informal hearing upon that counsel was appropriate under W.R.C.P. 5(b). In fact, W.R.C.P. 5(b), which secures the due process right to notice, mandates service on the attorney for a party. Loghry v. Loghry, 920 P.2d 664, 667-68 (Wyo.1996). Therefore, proper notice was provided to CRB and there is no due process violation.