Court Opinion

ID: 4167421
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-10 14:06:59.191223+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:29.804514
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION III
                                         CV-16-660
                                       No.

                                                    Opinion Delivered: May   10, 2017
PATRICK MALLOY AND JOHN
CALLAGHAN                      APPEAL FROM THE CLEBURNE
                    APPELLANTS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                               [NO. 12CV-15-89]
V.

BRUCE SMITH AND JAN SMITH       HONORABLE TIM WEAVER,
                      APPELLEES JUDGE
                                                    AFFIRMED

                                BART F. VIRDEN, Judge

        This case arises out of a default judgment in the Cleburne County Circuit Court.

 Patrick Malloy and John Callaghan raise the following three arguments in support of their

 position that the default judgment should be set aside: (1) Bruce and Jan Smith (the Smiths)

 did not comply with New York law regarding completion of service; (2) the Smiths’

 summonses do not strictly comply with Ark. R. Civ. P. 4(b); and (3) the default judgment

 against Malloy and Callaghan should be set aside for the reasons stated above and also due

 to “excusable neglect.” Callaghan further argues that Malloy’s defense of excusable neglect

 due to illness should inure to him under the common-defense doctrine. For the reasons set

 forth below, we find no error and affirm the circuit court.

                                             I. Factual History

        On June 1, 2015, the Smiths filed a complaint against New York residents Patrick

 Malloy and John Callaghan in the Cleburne County Circuit Court. In their complaint, they

 alleged that Malloy and Callaghan only partially performed the contract they executed with
                                Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

the Smiths and were therefore in breach. The Smiths asserted that in order to meet the costs

of running a business owned by their son, Dane, they loaned Malloy and Callaghan around

$300,000 between November 1, 2001, and June 27, 2013. According to the Smiths, Malloy

and Callaghan promised to repay the Smiths, but they failed to do so after they had made a

few payments.

       On June 29 and July 1, 2015, the Smiths personally served Malloy and Callaghan at

their places of business in New York. On July 13, 2015, the Smiths mailed a copy of the

summonses to Malloy’s and Callaghan’s business addresses. On July 16, 2015, both proofs

of personal service were filed in the Cleburne County Court. The June 29, 2015 proof of

service showed that it was delivered by process server to Patrick Malloy’s workplace, Malloy

Enterprises, 14 Bay Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, and that Jenny Pagano accepted the

summons. The proof of service of the summons dated July 1, 2015, showed that it was

delivered by process server to John Callaghan’s place of business at 50 Route 111, Suite 315,

Smithtown, New York, 11787 and that it was left with Gloria Scholz. The parties agree

that a summons was mailed to Malloy’s and Callaghan’s places of business on July 13, 2015;

however, separate proofs of mailing the summonses were not filed within twenty days of

mailing.

       Neither Malloy nor Callaghan answered the Smiths’ complaint, and the Smiths filed

a motion for default judgment on August 17, 2015. In their motion, they asserted that both

Malloy and Callaghan had been properly served, but neither party filed a responsive pleading

within thirty days, as required. The Smiths requested a hearing on damages, and a notice of

the hearing was mailed to Malloy’s and Callaghan’s places of business. Neither party

                                             2
                                Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

responded. On October 5, 2015, the damages hearing was conducted, and on October 19,

the order awarding the Smiths $285,346.91 (with 10 percent postjudgment interest) was

entered.

       Malloy and Callaghan filed a joint answer on November 6, 2015, in which they

denied they were in breach of contract. Malloy and Callaghan also asserted that they had

not been properly served, and thus, the circuit court lacked personal jurisdiction over the

parties.

       On November 16, 2015, Malloy and Callaghan filed a motion to set aside the default

judgment in which they argued that the default judgment against them was void due to

insufficient service of process according to both New York and Arkansas law. Malloy and

Callaghan also asserted that the court should set aside the default judgment based on

“excusable neglect” due to Malloy’s illness from June through October 2015, and that

Malloy’s defense inured to Callaghan under the common-defense doctrine. Malloy attached

an affidavit from his physician, Dr. William B. Kerr, in which he stated that during May

and June 2015, Malloy became increasingly lethargic and that his health deteriorated after a

ruptured Achilles tendon on June 4. Dr. Kerr stated in his affidavit that Malloy was in and

out of consciousness for an unspecified amount of time, that he was unable to speak clearly,

that he could not tend to his daily needs, and that he required 24-hour nursing care. Dr.

Kerr asserted that Malloy remained in grave medical condition and had been in the hospital

off and on until around October 21, 2015, when he seemed to regain relatively normal

functioning. Malloy submitted no other evidence or documentation of his illness.

                                             3
                                Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       The Smiths responded that service was proper according to both New York and

Arkansas law and that Malloy’s illness did not constitute excusable neglect.

       On February 2, 2016, there was a hearing on the motion to set aside the default

judgment. The court ruled from the bench that the Smiths met the requirements of Ark.

R. Civ. P. 4 regarding service, and the circuit court rejected Malloy’s argument regarding

excusable neglect, finding that Malloy had failed to “attend to his business[.]” The circuit

court took the issue of New York’s requirements regarding proof of service under

advisement. On April 29, 2016, the circuit court entered an order denying the motion to

set aside the default judgment. In the order, the circuit court found that after having

considered the testimony, documents filed in support, arguments of counsel, and “all other

evidence and proof” the motion should be “denied in its entirety.”

       Malloy and Callaghan filed a timely notice of appeal.

                                       II. Standard of Review

       Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 55(c) (2016) governs default judgments, and

subsection (c) sets forth the circumstances under which a court may set aside a default

judgment:

       The court may, upon motion, set aside a default judgment previously entered for the
       following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) the
       judgment is void; (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic),
       misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party; or (4) any other reason
       justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. The party seeking to have the
       judgment set aside must demonstrate a meritorious defense to the action; however,
       if the judgment is void, no other defense to the action need be shown.

       Our standard of review for an order denying a motion to set aside a default judgment

depends on the grounds upon which the appellant claims the default judgment should be

                                             4
                                     Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

set aside. Steward v. Kuettel, 2014 Ark. 499, 450 S.W.3d 672. In cases in which the appellant

claims that the default judgment is void, our review is de novo, and we give no deference

to the circuit court’s ruling. Id.

       For their first and second points on appeal, Malloy and Callaghan assert that the

default judgment is void under Rule 55(c)(2) for lack of proper service, and thus our review

is de novo. For their third point on appeal regarding excusable neglect, this court reviews

the circuit court’s order denying the motion to set aside default for abuse of discretion. See

Steward, supra.

                                         III. Issues on Appeal

             A. Whether the Smiths Properly Completed Service According to
                         New York’s Rules of Civil Procedure

       Malloy and Callaghan argue that the Smiths did not properly perfect service

according to New York law, and thus the default judgment against them is void. We

disagree, and we affirm. 1

       According to Ark. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2), service is authorized “in any manner prescribed

by the law of the place in which service is made.” The Smiths served Malloy and Callaghan

in New York pursuant to section 308(2) of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules,

which allows personal service to be made

       by delivering the summons within the state to a person of suitable age and discretion
       at the actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode of the person

       1
         The Smiths argue that Malloy and Callaghan failed to obtain a specific ruling on the
issue of whether New York law requires proof of service to perfect service. We hold that
the ruling obtained was in the nature of a “blanket” ruling and thus preserved for our review.
See Sloop v. Kiker, 2016 Ark. App. 125, at 4, 484 S.W.3d 696, 699.

                                                  5
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       to be served and . . . by mailing the summons by first class mail to the person to be
       served at his or her actual place of business in an envelope bearing the legend
       “personal and confidential” such delivery and mailing to be effected within twenty
       days of each other; proof of such service shall be filed with the clerk of the court
       designated in the summons within twenty days of either such delivery or mailing,
       whichever is effected later; service shall be complete ten days after such filing; proof
       of service shall identify such person of suitable age and discretion and state the date,
       time and place of service[.]

N.Y.C. P.L.R. § 308(2) (McKinney 2017).

       New York requires that three steps must be completed before service is effected.

First, the summons must be delivered to a person of suitable age at the party’s actual place

of business. Second, the summons must be mailed to the party’s actual place of business.

Third, the proof of service must be filed with the clerk of the court within twenty days of

either the delivery or the mailing of service, whichever is later. See Discover Bank v. Fortier,

916 N.Y.S.2d 917 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2011).

       Malloy and Callaghan admit that the Smiths personally delivered the summons to

their places of business and that the Smiths mailed the summons to their business addresses

as well. Malloy also agrees that the Smiths filed proofs of personal service with the clerk of

the court within the specified time. The point of contention between the parties is whether

N.Y.C. P.L.R. § 308(2) requires that proof of the mailing of the summons be filed within

twenty days of either mailing or personal delivery, whichever had been effected later. Malloy

and Callaghan argue that the Smiths failed to file a valid proof of service, because the proofs

of service contained proof only that the server had personally delivered the summons to

their places of business, and that the proofs did not show proof of mailing. We disagree.

                                               6
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       Rule 308(2) specifically sets forth that “proof of service shall identify such persons of

suitable age and discretion and state the date, time and place of service[.]” Rule 306, entitled

“Proof of Service,” defines what constitutes proof of service:

              (a) Generally. Proof of service shall specify the papers served, the person who
       was served and the date, time, address, or, in the event there is no address, place and
       manner of service, and set forth facts showing that the service was made by an
       authorized person and in an authorized manner.

              (b) Personal service. Whenever service is made pursuant to this article by
       delivery of the summons to an individual, proof of service shall also include, in
       addition to any other requirement, a description of the person to whom it was so
       delivered, including, but not limited to, sex, color of skin, hair color, approximate
       age, approximate weight and height, and other identifying features.

N.Y.C. P.L.R. § 306 (a)—(b).

       The two summonses in the record contain the following information. The first

summons shows that it was issued to Patrick Malloy, that it was personally served by process

server at his place of business on June 29, 2015, and that it was left with Jenny Pagano. The

second summons sets forth that it was personally delivered to John Callaghan at his place of

business on July 1, 2015, and that Gloria Scholz accepted it. Both summonses contain a

physical description of the person who received the summons.

       Malloy and Callaghan do not dispute that the summonses were mailed on July 13,

2015, and that the proofs of service described above were filed on July 16, 2015, and were

within the twenty-day time limit. Appellants argue that because the Smiths did not ask leave

of the court to file the proofs of mailing late, service was not completed in a timely fashion

and the default judgment was void; however, we cannot discern any language dictating that

proof of the mailing of the summons must be timely filed in either section 308(2) or section

306.

                                               7
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       Malloy cites several New York cases in support of his argument. None of the cases

are analogous to the case at bar. See Alexander Smith Carpet v. Walter Arnold, Inc., 462
N.Y.S.2d 206 (N.Y. App. Div. 1983) (in which the New York Supreme Court held that

service was defective because the Massapequa address that the summons was delivered to

was not the actual place of the defendant’s business or residence); Bossuk v. Steinberg, 447
N.E.2d 56, 58 (N.Y. 1983) (“[W]e find equally without merit defendant’s contention that

proof of the mailing of a copy of the summons, as further required by the statute, was lacking

because the Sheriff’s employee who actually did so was not produced. The proof of the

Sheriff’s regular course of business in this regard sufficed.”); Takeuchi v. Silberman, 839
N.Y.S.2d 71 (N.Y. App. Div. 2007) (Jurisdiction was demonstrated by plaintiffs’ showing

delivery to person of suitable age and discretion at, and mailing to, place that defendant

acknowledged was his place of business.); Garrison Fuel Oil of Long Island, Inc. v. Grippo, 486
N.Y.S.2d 136 (Nassau Cty. Ct. 1985) (The court held that it was impossible to ascertain

whether service pursuant to CPLR 308(2) was properly accomplished because the affidavit

of service did not list the address to which the copy of the subpoena was mailed.); N.Y.

State Higher Educ. Servs. Corp. v. Palmeri, 563 N.Y.S.2d 358, 359 (N.Y. App. 1990) (Service

was not proper because the mailing was made twenty-six days after the service at his

residence rather than the required twenty days.).

       While section 308(2) does clearly require that the mailing be done within twenty

days, it does not establish that the proof of the mailing be filed in order to complete service.

Proof of service must be filed but not proof of the mailing. We hold that perfection of

service was effected under New York law, and we affirm.

                                               8
                                Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

                          B. Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 4

       Malloy and Callaghan contend on appeal that the Smiths did not comply with Ark.

R. Civ. P. 4(b) because the space on the official form of summons for the address of the

party being served was left blank, and thus, the default judgment is void for lack of service.

We disagree.

       Statutory service requirements, being in derogation of common-law rights, must be

strictly construed and compliance with them must be exact in order to give a court

jurisdiction over a defendant. See Smith v. Sidney Moncrief Pontiac, Buick, GMC Co., 353
Ark. 701, 120 S.W.3d 525 (2003). This court has held that the same reasoning applies to

service requirements imposed by court rules. Trusclair v. McGowan Working Partners, 2009
Ark. 203, at 3–4, 306 S.W.3d 428, 430. The technical requirements of a summons set out

in Ark. R. Civ. P. 4(b) must be construed strictly and compliance with those requirements

must be exact. Id. The purpose of the summons is to apprise a defendant that a suit is pending

against him and afford him an opportunity to be heard. Shotzman v. Berumen, 363 Ark. 215,

227, 213 S.W.3d 13, 19 (2005).

       Rule 4(b) sets forth that the summons must contain

       the names of the parties; be directed to the defendant; state the name and address of
       the plaintiff’s attorney, if any, otherwise the address of the plaintiff; and the time
       within which these rules require the defendant to appear, file a pleading, and defend
       and shall notify him that in case of his failure to do so, judgment by default may be
       entered against him for the relief demanded in the complaint.

       Malloy and Callaghan argue that because the official form of summons required by

our supreme court contains a blank space for the defendant’s address, the address must be

filled in to meet the Rule 4(b) requirement that the summons “be directed to the

                                              9
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

defendant.”    Malloy and Callaghan cite Shotzman, in support of their argument. In

Shotzman, the appellants argued that they complied with the requirement that the summons

be “directed to” the defendant. They asserted that there is no requirement that a defendant’s

name be set forth after the language on the summons form: “THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

TO DEFENDANT(S)” and contended that Rule 4 requires only that the summons be

“directed to” the defendant. Because “SEMMC” was listed under the heading “Defendant’s

address,” they argued that they had sufficiently complied with the rule. Our supreme court

held,

        However, this argument is contradicted by this court’s adoption of the Official Form
        of Summons on May 24, 2001, wherein the court provided that the form was
        “adopted . . . for use in all cases in which personal service is to be had pursuant to
        Rule 4(c), (d), and (e) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.” The language of
        the official form includes the phrase “THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO
        DEFENDANT: __________________.” We are unwilling to conclude that this
        phrase is nothing more than surplus verbiage, or that it is unnecessary for a plaintiff
        to fill in the blank to identify the defendant.

Id. at 227–28, 213 S.W.3d at 19–20.

        Shotzman is distinguishable from the instant case. First, the crux of Shotzman is that

the summons did not include the correct name of the defendant. Our supreme court held

that “[b]ecause Sisters of Mercy and SEMMC are entirely separate corporate entities, the

Shotzmans’ ‘misnomer’ is fatal because it was ‘material and substantial [enough] to indicate

a different entity or to produce doubts as to the corporation intended to be sued.’” Id. at

225, 213 S.W.3d at 18 (quoting Builder One Carpet One v. Wilkins, 83 Ark. App. 252, 257,

128 S.W.3d 828, 831 (2003)). Malloy and Callaghan do not argue that there was a

misnomer or omission on the form of the summons that would have created confusion as

to the party being sued. They argue simply that the form had a space for the address of the

                                              10
                                Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

defendant and that information must be filled in on the form to satisfy the requirement that

the summons be directed to the defendant.

       It is important to note that the official form of summons sets forth that the form

complies with Rule 4(b) and “does not modify of amend any part of that rule.” With that

in mind, we note that Rule 4 does not specifically require that the defendant’s address be

stated on the summons. Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 4 requires only that the summons

be directed to the defendant, which was done by filling in the correct names of the

defendants. Furthermore, the purpose of a summons, as stated above, is to apprise a

defendant that a suit is pending against him and afford him an opportunity to be heard. No

confusion as to the identity of the parties in this case was alleged, as was contended in

Shotzman. We hold that Shotzman is inapposite to the present case.

       Malloy and Callaghan also cite Earls v. Harvest Credit Management, 2015 Ark. 175,

460 S.W.3d 795, in support of their argument that service was void; however, Earls is

distinguishable from the present case as well. Our supreme court held in Earls that because

the response time was incorrectly stated as thirty days rather than sixty days, the summons

was void:

       [T]he language of Rule 4(b) requiring that the summons be directed to “the
       defendant,” or in this case, the Earlses, must be read in conjunction with Rule 12(a),
       which provides for varying response times for in-state, out-of-state, and incarcerated
       defendants. Given that Rule 4 and Rule 12 govern summonses and the response
       times therein, we cannot ignore our case law that states that a summons must comply
       exactly and not substantially with the requirements of Rule 4(b). Thus, we conclude
       that the response times for each category of defendant—in-state, out-of-state, and
       incarcerated defendants—must be correct and exact.

Id. at 6–7, 460 S.W.3d at 799 (citations omitted). In Earls, there was an obvious error on

the face of the summons misstating the response time for the defendants. Here, there is no

                                             11
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

error or omission on the face of the summons that violates or fails to fulfill the requirements

of Rule 4.

        This case is analogous to Talley v. Asset Acceptance, LLC, 2011 Ark. App. 757, in

which the appellant argued the summons was fatally defective because the court’s zip code

was incorrectly stated on the form. In Talley our court held,

               Nothing contained in subsection (b) requires the court address to appear in
        the summons. In addition, while it is true that the Reporter’s Notes to Rule 4 contain
        an “Official Form of Summons,” which provides a space for “Address of Clerk’s
        Office: __________,” we have concluded that, in determining whether there has
        been exact compliance with the service requirements, the language actually set forth
        in Rule 4 must take precedence over the “Official Form.” This is particularly true
        in light of the fact that the Reporter’s Notes also provide, “[t]he form ... may be
        modified as needed in special circumstances.” The Notes go on to explain, “The
        adoption of this form is in compliance with Rule 4(b) and does not modify or amend
        any part of that rule.”

Id. at 4.

        On this point, we affirm.

                                    C. Excusable Neglect

        Malloy and Callaghan argue that the circuit court erred in finding that Malloy did

not prove excusable neglect due to illness and that they have a meritorious defense to the

Smiths’ action; thus, the default judgment should be set aside. Their argument is not well-

taken, and on this point we affirm.

        As we stated earlier, Rule 55(c) provides that the court may set aside a default

judgment when it finds that the defaulting party has proved excusable neglect and has

demonstrated a meritorious defense to the action. See Tyrone v. Dennis, 73 Ark. App. 209,

39 S.W.3d 800 (2001).

                                              12
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       Malloy asserts that he was ill from June to October 2015, and his personal physician

supports Malloy’s assertion in an affidavit. Dr. Kerr stated that on June 4, 2015, Malloy

collapsed after he had ruptured his Achilles tendon, that following the rupture, Malloy had

been in and out of consciousness, that he was eventually diagnosed with deep-vein

thrombosis, and that he spent from June to October in “grave medical condition” requiring

constant nursing-home care. Dr. Kerr asserted that Malloy was unable to attend to his affairs

during this time.

       The circuit court rejected Malloy’s explanation, stating from the bench that “there’s

gaps that I’m not satisfied that . . . Mr. Malloy was in fact incapacitated that entire period of

time.” In other words, the circuit court did not find Malloy’s testimony or his physician’s

affidavit credible. The circuit court found that Malloy had not proved excusable neglect and

that Malloy had failed to attend to his business. Our supreme court and this court have

repeatedly held that failure to attend to business does not constitute excusable neglect. See

Maple Leaf Canvas, Inc. v. Rogers, 311 Ark. 171, 842 S.W.2d 22 (1992); Israel v. Oskey, 92
Ark. App. 192, 202, 212 S.W.3d 45, 51 (2005). We hold that the circuit court did not abuse

its discretion in finding that Malloy did not meet his burden of proof regarding excusable

neglect.

       Because we affirm the circuit court’s decision that Malloy did not prove excusable

neglect, there is no need to reach the second prong of the analysis regarding whether Malloy

and Callaghan had a meritorious defense to the complaint. See Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c).

Similarly, we need not reach the merits of whether Malloy’s defense inures to Callaghan, or

any preservation issues regarding that argument.

                                               13
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

       Affirmed.

       WHITEAKER, J., agrees.

       GRUBER, C.J., concurs.

       RITA W. GRUBER, Chief Judge, concurring. The Smiths stated in their brief

supporting their motion for default judgment that they mailed first-class letters to each

appellant within twenty days after service. Under N.Y. CPLR § 308(2), “delivery and

mailing [of the summons] are to be effected within twenty days of each other; proof of such

service shall be filed with the clerk of the court designated in the summons within twenty days

of either such delivery or mailing, whichever is effected later . . . .” (Emphasis added.)

Appellants assert that—because the alleged mailings were on July 13, 2015, and the motion

for default judgment was not filed until more than a month later—the Smiths failed to file

with the clerk of the court valid proofs of service within the section’s twenty-day time limit.

       In Discover Bank v. Eschwege, 897 N.Y.S.2d 333 (N.Y. App. Div. 2010), the plaintiff

did not obtain judicial permission before filing proof of mailing more than twenty days

after service; the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, vacated the default judgment

against the defendant. The Eschwege court noted that failure to file proof of service within

the time specified in CPLR § 308 is not a jurisdictional defect but a procedural irregularity

that may be cured by an order permitting the late filing of proof of service nunc pro tunc;

a court may exercise its discretion and sua sponte cure the irregularity. 897 N.Y.S.2d, at

334.

       In the case we decide today, I agree that section 308(2) does not establish that proof

of mailing shall be timely filed. Because it is not our place to interpret New York law, and

                                              14
                                 Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 288

because section 308(2) gives no guidance as to how the plaintiff shall notify the court that

the mailing requirements of the section have been followed, I agree that service was

effected under New York law.

       Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, by: Charles T. Coleman, Michael A. Thompson, and

Jacob P. Fair, for appellants.

       Bowen Law Firm, PLLC, by: Martin W. Bowen, for appellees.

                                             15