Cribb v. Matlock Communications, Inc.

768 P.2d 337, 236 Mont. 27, 1989 Mont. LEXIS 29

• Court: Montana Supreme Court
• Decided: January 30, 1989
• Docket: 88-304
• Status: Published

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE McDONOUGH

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

This appeal from the Seventeenth Judicial District, in and for the County of Valley, concerns the District Court’s denial of a motion to set aside an entry of default under Rule 55(c), M.R.Civ.P. The only issue is whether the lower court abused its discretion in denying the motion. We reverse.

The relevant facts are as follows: respondents Cribbs, and Wrights, (Cribbs) agreed to sell their stock in Glasgow Publishing Company, a corporation, to Matlock Communications, Inc., owned by Stephen J. Matlock. Cribbs exchanged the company’s stock for promissory notes and other consideration from Matlock. The parties placed the stock in escrow to secure the debt owed on the notes.

Cribbs regained control of the company when Matlock Communications failed to make the required payments. Cribbs then sued Matlock and Matlock Communications for money still due under the sales agreement.

Cribbs joined appellant Idaho Bank and Trust Company (I.B.& T.) because Matlock had secured a loan from I.B.& T. with assets owned by Glasgow Publishing Company. Cribbs’ complaint contended that Matlock had no authority to encumber the assets, and sought a judgment voiding the security interest claimed by I.B.& T.

On December 22, 1986, Cribbs served summons and complaint on I.B.& T.’s main downtown office in Boise, Idaho. I.B.& T. failed to answer or appear within 20 days. On February 5, 1987, the clerk entered default against I.B.& T. On March 6, 1987, before Cribbs had taken any final judgment, I.B.& T. filed a motion to set aside the default, a crossclaim, a counterclaim, and a third party complaint.

I.B.& T. also submitted affidavits explaining their failure to respond to Cribbs’ complaint. An employee in I.B.& T.’s branch office swore that he delivered the papers to another employee for transfer to the main I.B.& T. office through the Bank’s courier system. The other employee remembered receiving the papers with instructions for their delivery, but could not verify if she had channeled the papers into the courier system. The summons and complaint never arrived at the main office.

I.B.& T discovered their failure to answer or appear approximately one week after the clerk entered the default. One month after the entry of default I.B.& T. filed its motion, answer, crossclaim, counterclaim and third party complaint.

I.B.& T. contends that the District Court abused its discretion in refusing to set aside the entry of default because I.B.& T. made the showing of good cause required by Rule 55(c), M.R.Civ.P. Cribbs respond that Rule 55(c)’s good cause should be equated with “excusable neglect” in Rule 60(b), M.R.Civ.P., and that I.B.& T. has failed to excuse its late response. The parties also disagree on whether I.B.& T.’s tardy response prejudiced Cribbs.

First, Cribbs mistakenly contend good cause under Rule 55(c), M.R.Civ.P., equates to excusable neglect under Rule 60(b), M.R.Civ.P. Rule 55(c), M.R.Civ.P., provides that:

“For good cause shown the court may set aside an entry of default and, if a judgment by default has been entered, may likewise set it aside in accordance with Rule 60(b).”

The majority view holds that:

“the ‘good cause’ standard for setting aside a default entry is more flexible and lenient than the Rule 60(b) standard for setting aside a default judgment. 6 J. Moore, Moore’s Federal Practice paragraph 55.10[1] and [2] (2d ed. 1983); . . . The default entry is simply an interlocutory order than in itself determines no rights or remedies, whereas the default judgment is a final judgment that terminates the litigation and decides the dispute.”

Hertz v. Berzanske (Alaska 1985), 704 P.2d 767, 770. We agree that the good cause standard under Rule 55(c), M.R.Civ.P., should be applied more flexibly and leniently than the excusable neglect standard under Rule 60(b), M.R.Civ.P.

Second, we hold the I.B.& T. made a sufficient showing of good cause in the lower court. To determine the existence of good cause, courts should consider:

“(1) whether the default was willful, (2) whether the plaintiff would be prejudiced if the default should be set aside, and (3) whether the defendant has presented a meritorious defense to plaintiffs claim. The court must also balance the interests of the defendant in the adjudication of his defense on the merits, against the interests of the public and the court in the orderly and timely administration of justice.”

6 J. Moore, Moore’s Federal Practice paragraph 55.10[2], at 55-50 (2d ed. 1988), and see Sony Corp. v. Elm State Electronics, Inc. (2nd Cir. 1986), 800 F.2d 317, 320 (in addition to three factors above, courts may consider whether there was a good faith mistake, whether a harsh or large judgment would result, the strong preference of adjudication on the merits, and resolution of doubts in favor of granting motion to set aside).

I.B.& T. submitted affidavits that its failure to respond resulted from clerical error. Facing similar facts, one U.S. District Court agree to set aside an entry of default stating:

“The Court, of course, is not condoning the filing of a late answer, yet it is reluctant to enter a default judgment where, as here, there was not willful abuse of its process nor apparent prejudice to the plaintiff”

Wallace v. De Werd (D.V.I. 1969), 47 F.R.D. 4, 5. Here there is also a lack of willful abuse of the lower court’s process and a lack of apparent prejudice. Cribbs argue that prejudice exists because reversal will further delay the case. We reject this contention. Prejudice from delay should be measured at the time the party moves to set aside an entry of default.

Weighing the third factor in this case presents more difficulty. Cribbs contend I.B.& T. has failed to show a meritorious defense because Matlock could not have had authority to encumber the assets of Glasgow Publishing Company.

I.B.& T. contends that the documents creating the security interest are regular on their face, and that Matlock provided documentation demonstrating that he was authorized to borrow for Glasgow Publishing Company as the Corporation’s sole director. I.B.& T. also contends that the security agreement may be validated by the allegation that Glasgow Publishing Company received a monetary benefit from loans authorized by Matlock.

Cribbs have responded to these contentions by arguing that Mat-lock never properly became sole director of the corporation, and that none of the proceeds of the loans benefited Glasgow Publishing Company.

Cribbs have presented evidence supporting their position. However, resolution of doubt in finding a meritorious case should be resolved in favor of I.B.& T. Meehan v. Snow (2nd Cir. 1981), 652 F.2d 274, 277. I.B. & T has alleged facts which, if proven, provide a defense.

Appellate courts reverse refusals to set aside entries of default on a showing of slight abuse of discretion by the lower court. 6J. Moore, Moore’s Federal Practice paragraph 55.10[2], at 55-59. Given the lack of willfulness, prejudice, and the presence of factual allegations supporting a defense, we hold that the District Court abused its discretion in denying the motion. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

MR. JUSTICES SHEEHY, WEBER and HUNT concur.