Milner v. Milner

244 So. 2d 716, 1971 La. App. LEXIS 6433
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 2, 1971
DocketNo. 11569
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 244 So. 2d 716 (Milner v. Milner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Milner v. Milner, 244 So. 2d 716, 1971 La. App. LEXIS 6433 (La. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

BOLIN, Judge.

La Vonne Marie Smith Milner appeals from a judgment rejecting her demands seeking annulment of a divorce judgment previously rendered against her in favor of her former husband, Purvis Milner. Mrs. Milner claims the divorce decree was null because, at that time, she was a nonresident and the judgment was rendered less than fifteen days after the attorney appointed to represent her had accepted service of citation. For oral reasons made a part of the record, the trial court refused to annul the judgment and petitioner appeals.

On January 30, 1969, Mrs. Milner had obtained a separation from her husband in the District Court of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, at which time both parties were domiciled and residing in Caddo Parish. The separation judgment granted the care and custody of a minor child, issue of their marriage, to the mother, and ordered the husband to pay to his wife $50 per month for the maintenance and support of the child.

On April 6, 1970, Purvis Milner filed suit against his wife for final divorce on the ground they had been living separate and apart, without reconciliation, since the rendition of the separation judgment. Based upon an allegation that the wife was a resident of Seattle, Washington, the court appointed an attorney at law to represent her in the divorce proceeding. The order appointing the attorney was dated April 6, 1970. On April 7, 1970, the attorney filed an answer in the form of a general denial.

On April 15, 1970, trial was held and the curator filed in evidence a copy of a letter, written by him and addressed to Mrs. Milner at a definite street address in Seattle, Washington, together with a receipt reflecting the letter had been sent by certified mail. On the same day judgment of final divorce was entered in favor of Milner against his wife but this judgment made no provision for custody of the minor child or alimony for her support.

On July 20, 1970, the wife instituted proceedings in the District Court of Caddo Parish, alleging the husband was $350 in arrears on his support payments for the child. Milner was ruled into court to show cause why the amount due should not be made executory and, further, why he should not be held in contempt for his failure to pay child support in accordance with the original judgment. On August 6, 1970, the husband filed an answer to [718]*718the rule for contempt, admitting he was delinquent in the amount of $150 for child support. However, as the judgment of final divorce, dated April 15, 1970, made no provision for child support, the husband denied owing any obligation of support after the latter date.

On August 20, 1970, the wife caused a rule to be issued asking that the divorce judgment rendered April 15, 1970, be decreed an absolute nullity because fifteen days had not elapsed from the date of service of citation on the curator ad hoc until the rendition of the final judgment. The trial of the rule consisted of the filing in evidence of all the prior proceedings between the parties and argument of counsel. The lower court rejected the wife’s demands to annul the divorce judgment, and it is the correctness of this ruling which is the issue before this court.

We think the following articles of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, together with the official revision comments, control determination of the question to be decided:

“Art. 5092.
“When the court appoints an attorney at law to represent an unrepresented party, it shall appoint an attorney qualified to practice law in this state.
“The court shall not accept any suggestion as to the name of the attorney to be appointed, unless manifestly in the interest of the unrepresented party.”
.“Art. 5093.
“An attorney at law appointed by the court to represent an unrepresented party need not take an oath before entering on the performance of his duties, as his oath of office as an attorney applies to all of his professional duties.
“An attorney appointed to represent a defendant may waive citation and accept service of process, but may not waive any defense. No further action may he taken by the court after service or acceptance thereof until after the expiration of the delay allowed the defendant to answer, even though the appointed attorney may have filed an exception or answer prior thereto.” (Emphasis added)
“Official Revision Comment
“The last sentence of this article accords with the local rules of some district courts. The purpose of this prohibition is to allow an unrepresented defendant the full delay to appear and defend the suit through counsel of his own choice.”
“Art. 5094.
“When an attorney at law is appointed by the court to represent a defendant who is a nonresident or an absentee, the attorney shall use reasonable diligence to communicate with the defendant and inform him of the pendency and nature of the action or proceeding, and of the time available for the filing of an answer or the assertion of a defense otherwise.
“Art. 5095.
“The attorney at law appointed by the court to represent a defendant shall use reasonable diligence to inquire of the defendant, and to determine from other available sources, what defense, if any, the defendant may have, and what evidence is available in support thereof.
“Except in an executory proceeding, the attorney may except to the petition, shall file an answer in time to prevent a default judgment from being rendered, may plead therein any affirmative defense available, may prosecute an appeal from an adverse judgment, and generally has the same duty, responsibility, and authority in defending the action or proceeding as if he had been retained as counsel for the defendant.”
“Art. 5096.
“The court shall allow the attorney at law appointed to represent a defendant a [719]*719reasonable fee for his services, which shall be paid by the plaintiff, but shall be taxed as costs of court.
“The attorney so appointed may require the plaintiff to furnish security for the costs which may be paid by, and the reasonable fee to be allowed, the attorney.
“If the attorney so appointed is retained as counsel for the defendant, the attorney shall immediately advise the court and opposing counsel of such employment.”
“Art. 5098.
“The failure of an attorney appointed by the court to represent an unrepresented party to perform any duty imposed upon him by, or the violation by any person of, the provisions of Articles 5092 through 5096 shall not affect the validity of any proceeding, trial, order, judgment, seizure, or judicial sale of any property in the action or proceeding, or in connection therewith.
“For a wilful violation of any provision of Articles 5092 through 5096 an attorney at law subjects himself to punishment for contempt of court, and such further disciplinary action as is provided by law.” (Emphasis added.)
“Official Revision Comments

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Related

State v. Zavala
590 So. 2d 744 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1991)
State v. Likens
577 So. 2d 285 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1991)
In Re Wildeboer
406 So. 2d 687 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1981)
Milner v. Milner
246 So. 2d 198 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
244 So. 2d 716, 1971 La. App. LEXIS 6433, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/milner-v-milner-lactapp-1971.