Court Opinion

ID: 9790361
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:52:10.733171+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:29.153832
License: Public Domain

BURNETT, Judge,*
dissenting in part.
I respectfully disagree with that part of the majority opinion which denies relief from the default judgment under I.R.C.P. 60(b)(1). This question, as my colleagues acknowledge, is one on which we are free to exercise our own discretion — the district court having failed to make findings that would trigger a more deferential standard of appellate review.
As I see it, Durbano’s failure to file a pleading in state court, while actively litigating the same contested case in federal court, was an excusable form of neglect. At the very least, I believe this case is laden with doubt about the appropriateness, and fairness, of the default judgment. I would adhere to the general principle that default judgments are disfavored, and should be set aside in doubtful cases, in order to reach decisions on the merits.

 Judge Burnett's dissenting opinion was prepared prior to his resignation on July 16, 1990.