Gregory Thomaston v. U.S. Bank National Association (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 24, 2019
• Docket: 18A-MF-2397
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be Jun 24 2019, 7:05 am regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK Indiana Supreme Court the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Preeti (Nita) Gupta Dustin R. DeNeal Indianapolis, Indiana Carl A. Greci Louis T. Perry Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Gregory Thomaston, June 24, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-MF-2397 v. Appeal from the Marion Superior Court U.S. Bank National Association, The Honorable Burnett Caudill, Appellee-Plaintiff. Jr., Judge Pro Tem Trial Court Cause No. 49D01-1607-MF-23685

Mathias, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-MF-2397 | June 24, 2019 Page 1 of 5 [1] Gregory Thomaston (“Thomaston”) appeals the Marion Superior Court’s

denial of his Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment. Concluding that the trial

court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [2] U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) filed a foreclosure complaint

against Thomaston on June 23, 2016. On September 12, 2016, U.S. Bank filed a

motion for default. Also on September 12, 2016, Thomaston signed a filing

requesting a settlement conference. This request for a settlement conference was

not filed until September 19, 2016. In the interim, on September 16, 2016, the

trial court granted U.S. Bank’s motion for default judgment. A docket entry

from October 6, 2016, reads “[n]o action taken on the Request for Settlement

Conference as default judgment has been entered. Either party may file a

Motion to Set Aside the Judgment.” Appellant’s App. p. 4. Between this entry

and January 15, 2018, U.S. Bank filed three praecipes for sheriff sales. No other

action in the matter was taken during this time period.

[3] Over a year after default judgment was entered, on January 15, 2018,

Thomaston filed a Motion to Set Aside the Default Judgment. U.S. Bank filed

its response the very next day. After several continuances so the parties could

engage in settlement negotiations, and a dispute over whether Thomaston could

conduct discovery, a hearing on the motion to set aside the judgment was held

on September 13, 2018. The trial court entered an order denying the motion on

the same day. Thomaston now appeals.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-MF-2397 | June 24, 2019 Page 2 of 5 Discussion and Decision

[4] “The decision of whether to set aside a default judgment is committed to the

sound discretion of the trial court.” Whitt v. Farmer’s Mutual Relief Ass’n, 815

N.E.2d 537, 539 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (citing Tardy v. Chumrley, 658 N.E.2d

959, 961 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied). Our review is limited to

determining whether the trial court has abused its discretion. Id. “An abuse of

discretion occurs if the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts

and circumstances before the court, or the reasonable, probable, and actual

deductions to be drawn therefrom.” McElfresh v. State, 51 N.E.3d 103, 107 (Ind.

2016). We do not reweigh the evidence. Gipson v. Gipson, 644 N.E.2d 876, 877

(Ind. 1994).

[5] Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(8) allows for a judgment to be set aside “for any

reason justifying relief from operation of the judgment[.]” Any claim filed

pursuant to T.R. 60(B)(8) must be filed within a reasonable period of time after

the judgment is entered. Fairrow v. Fairrow, 559 N.E.2d 597 (Ind. 1990). The

determination of reasonableness, however, varies with the circumstances of

each case. Gipson, 644 N.E.2d at 877. “Relevant to the question of timeliness is

prejudice to the party opposing the motion and the basis for the moving party’s

delay.” Id. A motion for relief from judgment filed pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule

60(B)(8) must also allege a meritorious defense. T.R. 60(B).

[6] Thomaston specifically argues that he had a meritorious defense, namely, that

his request for a settlement conference was not honored. He also alleges the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-MF-2397 | June 24, 2019 Page 3 of 5 motion to set aside default judgment was not filed earlier because the parties

were engaging in settlement negotiations. U.S. Bank counters, among related

arguments, that Thomaston did not file the motion for relief from judgment

within a reasonable time and that Thomaston did not allege a meritorious claim

or defense. Appellee’s Br. at 7. We address each issue in turn.

I. Meritorious Defense

[7] To establish a meritorious defense for the purposes of Trial Rule 60(B), the

moving party must show that a different result would be reached if the case was

decided on the merits. Vanjani v. Federal Land Bank of Louisville, 451 N.E.2d 667,

672 (Ind. Ct. App. 1983). The party seeking to set aside a default judgment

must make a “prima facie showing of a good and meritorious defense.” Id. at

671.

[8] On appeal, Thomaston argues that his request for settlement conference should

have been granted pursuant to Indiana Code section 32-30-10.5-10. However,

because he did not request the settlement conference within thirty days of

service of the complaint, he cannot show that he was entitled to the requested

settlement conference. Ind. Code § 32-30-10.5-9(a)(2)(A). Accordingly,

Thomaston has not made a prima facie showing of a meritorious defense.

II. Timeliness

[9] What constitutes a reasonable period of time, for the purposes of a motion to

set aside judgment, is dependent upon the circumstances of the case, and the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-MF-2397 | June 24, 2019 Page 4 of 5 burden is on the moving party to show that relief is both necessary and just. In

re Adoption of T.L.W., 835 N.E.2d 598, 601 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).

[10] Here, the request for settlement conference was filed after the trial court had

entered default judgment. The trial court, by CCS entry dated October 6, 2018,

directed Appellant to the proper procedure for the request for a settlement

conference to be heard at that time. Thomaston, however, did not take that

action until approximately fifteen months later. Appellant, having provided no

reason for the delay in the request to set aside the default judgment, has not

shown that the request was filed in a timely manner.

Conclusion [11] Thomaston has not made a prima facie showing of a meritorious defense. Nor

did he file his motion for relief from judgment within a reasonable time.

Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

denying the motion for relief from judgment.

[12] Affirmed.

Vaidik, C.J., and Crone, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-MF-2397 | June 24, 2019 Page 5 of 5