In re Diaz (04-40564)

Plaintiffs filed an Adversary Proceeding against Ms. Mock. Ms. Mock had hired National Child Support to collect back child support owed on a judgment. National Child Support hired an attorney to represent Ms. Mock, but there was a miscommunication as to whom the attorney represented. As a result, the attorney filed a response in the name of National Child support only. A default judgment was entered against Ms. Mock. Ms. Mock filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. The "excusable neglect" standard of Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) governs whether a default judgment should be set aside. In this case, the misunderstanding of the attorney for Ms. Mock falls within the parameters of "excusable neglect." Therefore, the default judgment was set aside.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2005