Opinion ID: 1466612
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Timeliness of State Farm's Response to Motion for Class Certification

Text: For its first point on appeal, State Farm argues that the trial court erred in granting Ledbetter's motion for class certification after erroneously concluding that State Farm was in default for failing to respond to Ledbetter's motion within the time allowed under Ark. R. Civ. P. 6(c). State Farm contends that it was not in default because Ledbetter's motion was not complete until a signed and notarized affidavit of Becky Harrington was filed on July 29, 2002, thereby, giving it until August 15 to file its response. State Farm bases this assertion on the fact that Harrington's affidavit was required as a supporting affidavit that should have been filed with the certification motion under Ark. R. Civ. P. 7(b)(2). State Farm argues further that the trial court erred because there is no requirement that it file a written response to the motion, and that it had a right to present its position on the motion at a hearing scheduled for October 14, 2002. According to State Farm, the pleadings in this case did not conclusively show that class certification was appropriate, thus, the trial court abused its discretion in certifying the class. We are unable to reach the merits of this argument, as it is not preserved for appellate review. The record reveals that after the trial court granted Ledbetter's motion for class certification, State Farm filed a motion to set aside the order. It also filed a motion requesting additional findings of fact and conclusions of law. During an emergency telephone conference on a separate issue, State Farm argued that it had not been in default and that it was entitled to present its position regarding certification at the hearing scheduled for October 14. The trial court then scheduled a hearing for September 10 and stated that it would consider the issue of whether class certification was appropriate, and if so, would allow the prior order to stand. At that September 10 hearing, State Farm again raised its arguments regarding the timing of its response and its alleged default. The trial court again explained that the purpose of the hearing was to give the parties a chance to submit their proof regarding class certification. The trial court then concluded that there was no reason to set aside the previous order granting class certification. The following colloquy then took place between counsel for State Farm and the trial court: MR. LEWIS: As I understand Your Honor's ruling, you're just ruling that there's no harm in certifying the class and not really reaching the issue of the timeliness of the response? THE COURT: No. That's exactly right. I apologize. I was under the impression when I read it that you had been served and that you were aware of the pleadings and had discussed the timing of hearings with the case coordinator and it was just there for me to either up or down on the certification. And I frankly thought that you didn't have any objection is the way I read it because I couldn't find any pleading objecting to the certification. If there was one, I didn't see it. MR. LEWIS: Do I understand the Court to be giving us the flexibility to put down a motion to decertify and be heard on that on October 14th? THE COURT: Sure. Sure. Clearly, the trial court did not consider or rule on State Farm's contentions regarding the issue of default or the timeliness of its response. The only issue ruled on by the trial court was whether class certification was appropriate in this case. This court has repeatedly held that a party's failure to obtain a ruling is a procedural bar to this court's consideration of the issue on appeal. Bell v. Bershears, 351 Ark. 260, 92 S.W.3d 32 (2002); Doe v. Baum, 348 Ark. 259, 72 S.W.3d 476 (2002); E-Z Cash Advance, Inc. v. Harris, 347 Ark. 132, 60 S.W.3d 436 (2001). Accordingly, State Farm's argument on this point will not be considered on appeal. Before leaving this point, we note that State Farm has included a supplemental addendum in its reply brief. Therein is a letter to the trial court from counsel for State Farm stating that they would not be prepared to argue the merits of class certification during the September 10 hearing, and that it was their understanding that the hearing was to be limited solely to the issue of default and the notice that had appeared in newspapers. This letter, however, has no bearing on the fact that the issue regarding default was not addressed by the trial court at the September 10 hearing. State Farm had the burden of obtaining a ruling on that issue, and its attempt to shift the blame does not preserve the issue for this court's review. See, e.g., Camden Community Dev. Corp. v. Sutton, 339 Ark. 368, 5 S.W.3d 439 (1999). Ultimately, however, State Farm is not prejudiced by the fact that they were not allowed to present evidence at a hearing, because we agree that the trial court erred in certifying this matter as a class action.