Court Opinion

ID: 9562057
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:20:53.603576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:11.372123
License: Public Domain

*378Berry, Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the decision of this case but I am of the opinion that under the provisions of Rule 12(a), R.C.P., it is mandatory that a defendant serve his answer within twenty days after the service of summons upon him unless before the expiration of the twenty days he files with the Court and serves upon the plaintiff a notice that he has a bona fide defense, and then, and only then, unless the provisions, of Rule 6(b) are complied with, is he allowed to serve the answer in an extended time within thirty days after he was served with the summons. There is no exception to the provisions of the above Rule in the instant case and none of the provisions of Rule 60, R.C.P., is applicable under the facts in the case at bar.
The Rules of Civil Procedure adopted and in force in this State were made to be adhered to, and I am of the opinion that attorneys cannot alter or change by agreement the mandatory provisions of the Rules or make new Rules in conflict therewith. The agreement attempted to be made by the attorneys in this case to extend the time in which to serve the answer without complying with Rule 6(b), R.C.P., was an attempt to circumvent the Rules and is not sanctioned by the provisions thereof.