Joseph Boswell v. Mary Lowery

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

REL: 9/21/12 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS SPECIAL TERM, 2012 2110463 Joseph Boswell v. Mary Lowery Appeal from Mobile C i r c u i t (CV-10-1698) Court BRYAN, J u d g e . Joseph Circuit Boswell Court appeals from a judgment o f t h e M o b i l e ("the c i r c u i t c o u r t " ) i n f a v o r o f Mary L o w e r y . Because t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t l a c k e d s u b j e c t - m a t t e r jurisdiction to e n t e r t h a t judgment, t h a t judgment i s v o i d , and, because a 2110463 v o i d j u d g m e n t w i l l n o t s u p p o r t an a p p e a l , we d i s m i s s appeal w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s to the On action July 8, against 2010, Lowery Boswell in circuit brought the court. an Mobile Boswell's unlawful-detainer District Court d i s t r i c t c o u r t " ) , s e e k i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f a h o u s e she had to Boswell ("the h o u s e " ) and answered Lowery's Following a bench t r i a l recovery complaint on filed a asserted November 15, c o u r t j u d g e , on November 17, electronically and of unpaid 2010, judgment a 2010, finding rented Boswell counterclaim. the electronically i n favor w i t h r e s p e c t t o b o t h h e r c l a i m and B o s w e l l ' s awarding her p o s s e s s i o n rent. ("the districtsigned of and Lowery counterclaim and o f t h e house and damages i n t h e amount of $4,000. Boswell motion on f i l e d a R u l e 5 9 ( e ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., November 24, postjudgment motion on 2010, and December filed 6, postjudgment a second Rule 2010. 1 The Rule 59(e) 59(e) No e n t r y was made on t h e c a s e - a c t i o n summary i n t h e S t a t e J u d i c i a l I n f o r m a t i o n System to r e c o r d B o s w e l l ' s f i l i n g of a R u l e 59(e) p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n on e i t h e r November 24, 2010, o r December 6, 2 0 1 0 ; h o w e v e r , t h e f i r s t R u l e 59(e) p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l b e a r s t h e d a t e stamp o f t h e d i s t r i c t - c o u r t c l e r k e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t i t was f i l e d on November 24, 2010, and t h e s e c o n d R u l e 59(e) postjudgment m o t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l b e a r s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c l e r k ' s f i l i n g stamp e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t i t was f i l e d on 1 2 2110463 postjudgment motion B o s w e l l had f i l e d on November 24, 2010, was d e n i e d b y o p e r a t i o n o f l a w p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 5 9 . 1 ( d c ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., on December 8, 2010. B o s w e l l f i l e d a notice of a p p e a l t o t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t on December 20, 2010. Following a bench trial, the c i r c u i t court entered a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f L o w e r y on November 28, 2 0 1 1 . L o w e r y a n d B o s w e l l each f i l e d Rule 59(e) postjudgment motions, which the c i r c u i t c o u r t denied. B o s w e l l then f i l e d a n o t i c e of appeal t o this c o u r t on F e b r u a r y 10, 2012. Although this the p a r t i e s have n o t r a i s e d c o u r t has j u r i s d i c t i o n the issue whether over B o s w e l l ' s appeal, " ' j u r i s d i c t i o n a l m a t t e r s a r e of such magnitude t h a t we t a k e n o t i c e o f them a t any t i m e a n d do so e v e n ex mero motu.' Nunn v. B a k e r , 518 So. 2d 711, 712 ( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) . 'Lack o f s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n may n o t be w a i v e d b y t h e p a r t i e s and i t i s t h e d u t y o f an a p p e l l a t e court t o consider lack of subject matter j u r i s d i c t i o n ex mero motu.' Ex p a r t e S m i t h , 438 So. 2d 766, 768 ( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) . " MPQ, I n c . v. B i r m i n g h a m R e a l t y Co., 78 So. 3d 391, 393 ( A l a . 2011). In p e r t i n e n t p a r t , § 6-6-350, A l a . Code 1975, a p a r t o f A l a b a m a ' s U n l a w f u l D e t a i n e r A r t i c l e , § 6-6-310 e t s e q . , A l a . December 6, 2010. 3 2110463 Code 1975, provides that "[a]ny party may appeal from a j u d g m e n t e n t e r e d a g a i n s t h i m o r h e r by a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o t h e circuit c o u r t a t any thereof " time w i t h i n (Emphasis added.) seven days a f t e r Section 6-6-350 the e n t r y has been amended w i t h r e s p e c t t o a p p e a l s i n u n l a w f u l - d e t a i n e r a c t i o n s i n v o l v i n g r e s i d e n t i a l l a n d l o r d s and t e n a n t s by § 35-9A-461, a p a r t o f A l a b a m a ' s U n i f o r m R e s i d e n t i a l L a n d l o r d and T e n a n t A c t , § 35-9A-101 e t s e q . , A l a . Code 1975. So. 3d 512, 515 ( A l a . 2011). See Ex p a r t e Brown, 83 S e c t i o n 35-9A-461(d) p r o v i d e s : " N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g s u b s e c t i o n (a) o f S e c t i o n 12-12-70 [concerning appeals from the district court g e n e r a l l y ] , any p a r t y may a p p e a l f r o m an e v i c t i o n j u d g m e n t e n t e r e d by a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t a t any t i m e w i t h i n s e v e n d a y s a f t e r t h e e n t r y t h e r e o f . The f i l i n g o f a t i m e l y p o s t - j u d g m e n t m o t i o n p u r s u a n t t o the Alabama R u l e s of C i v i l Procedure s h a l l suspend the r u n n i n g of the time f o r f i l i n g a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l . I n c a s e s where post-judgment motions are f i l e d , the f u l l time f i x e d f o r f i l i n g a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l s h a l l be computed f r o m t h e d a t e o f t h e e n t r y i n t h e c i v i l d o c k e t o f an o r d e r g r a n t i n g or d e n y i n g s u c h m o t i o n , o r t h e d a t e o f t h e d e n i a l o f s u c h m o t i o n by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 59.1 o f t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e . ..." (Emphasis added.) By e l e c t r o n i c a l l y s i g n i n g and e l e c t r o n i c a l l y j u d g m e n t on November 17, rendered and entered 2010, his the d i s t r i c t - c o u r t judgment 4 on that date. filing his judge both See Rule 2110463 58(dc), A l a . R. C i v . P. ("Rule 58 applies c o u r t s . " ) ; R u l e 5 8 ( a ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. o r d e r or a judgment electronic ... i n the ("A j u d g e may document t o t h e e l e c t r o n i c - f i l i n g system."); ("An an and o r d e r or a judgment r e n d e r e d electronically by t h e j u d g e u n d e r s u b d i v i s i o n rule deemed be r e n d e r an (5) by e x e c u t i n g and t r a n s m i t t i n g R u l e 5 8 ( c ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. shall district 'entered' w i t h i n (a)(5) of the meaning of this these R u l e s and t h e R u l e s o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e as o f t h e d a t e t h e o r d e r or judgment i s e l e c t r o n i c a l l y t r a n s m i t t e d by t h e judge p r o v i d e s t h a t , i n the case o f an u n l a w f u l - d e t a i n e r a c t i o n s u b j e c t t o a p p e a l u n d e r § 6-6¬ to the e l e c t r o n i c - f i l i n g R u l e 5 9 ( d c ) , A l a . R. system."). C i v . P., 2 350, a p a r t y must f i l e h i s o r h e r R u l e 5 9 ( e ) , A l a . R. C i v . postjudgment motion P., not l a t e r than 7 days a f t e r the e n t r y of t h e j u d g m e n t i n o r d e r f o r i t t o be t i m e l y . L o w e r y ' s a c t i o n was an u n l a w f u l - d e t a i n e r a c t i o n s u b j e c t t o a p p e a l u n d e r § 6-6-350, and, therefore, postjudgment B o s w e l l was motion required to f i l e h i s Rule 59(e) n o t l a t e r t h a n 7 d a y s a f t e r November 17, B o s w e l l a s s e r t s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t - c o u r t j u d g m e n t was n o t e n t e r e d u n t i l November 29, 2010; h o w e v e r , t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l and t h e c a s e - a c t i o n summary i n t h e S t a t e J u d i c i a l I n f o r m a t i o n System r e f u t e t h a t a s s e r t i o n . 2 5 2110463 2010, the date the d i s t r i c t - c o u r t j u d g m e n t was entered, i n o r d e r f o r i t t o be t i m e l y . See R u l e 5 9 ( d c ) . I n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , Rule 6 ( a ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., p r o v i d e s : "In computing any p e r i o d o f t i m e p r e s c r i b e d o r a l l o w e d b y t h e s e r u l e s , b y o r d e r o f c o u r t , o r b y any a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e , t h e day o f t h e a c t , e v e n t , o r d e f a u l t from which the d e s i g n a t e d p e r i o d o f time b e g i n s t o r u n s h a l l n o t be i n c l u d e d . The l a s t d a y o f t h e p e r i o d so c o m p u t e d s h a l l be i n c l u d e d , u n l e s s i t i s a S a t u r d a y , a Sunday, o r a l e g a l h o l i d a y , i n which event t h e p e r i o d runs u n t i l t h e end o f t h e n e x t day w h i c h i s n o t a S a t u r d a y , a Sunday, o r a legal holiday When the p e r i o d of time p r e s c r i b e d o r a l l o w e d i s l e s s t h a n e l e v e n (11) d a y s , i n t e r m e d i a t e S a t u r d a y s , Sundays, and l e g a l h o l i d a y s s h a l l be e x c l u d e d i n t h e c o m p u t a t i o n . As u s e d i n this rule ... 'legal holiday' includes ... T h a n k s g i v i n g Day " Thus, i n computing t h e 7-day p e r i o d t i m e l y Rule 59(e) postjudgment 17, 2010, t h e d a t e f o r Boswell to f i l e a m o t i o n , we (1) e x c l u d e November the d i s t r i c t - c o u r t j u d g m e n t was e n t e r e d , (2) b e g i n t h e c o m p u t a t i o n w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , November 18 (a Thursday), November 21 and (a (3) Sunday), exclude November November 25 20 (a S a t u r d a y ) , (Thanksgiving Day), November 27 (a S a t u r d a y ) , a n d November 28 (a S u n d a y ) . in t h a t manner, t h e l a s t to file 29, day o f t h e 7-day p e r i o d f o r B o s w e l l a t i m e l y Rule 59(e) postjudgment 2010. C o n s e q u e n t l y , Computed the Rule 6 m o t i o n was November 59(e) postjudgment motion 2110463 Boswell f i l e d i n the d i s t r i c t c o u r t on November 24, 2010, was t i m e l y and, t h e r e f o r e , s u s p e n d e d t h e t i m e f o r B o s w e l l t o his n o t i c e of appeal t o the c i r c u i t c o u r t p u r s u a n t t o § 35-9A- 4 6 1 ( d ) ; h o w e v e r , t h e R u l e 59(e) p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n he on December 6, 2010, was u n t i m e l y and, suspend the time f o r B o s w e l l t o f i l e the circuit So. 3d a t 394 toll the c o u r t . See MPQ, ... therefore, filed d i d not h i s n o t i c e of appeal to I n c . v. B i r m i n g h a m R e a l t y Co., ("'Although a t i m e l y postjudgment time p e r i o d file for f i l i n g a notice motion 78 will o f a p p e a l , an u n t i m e l y f i l e d p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n w i l l n o t do s o . ' " (quoting M a r s h v. M a r s h , 2002)); and § 852 So. 35-9A-461(d) 2d 161, ("The 163 filing of ( A l a . C i v . App. a timely m o t i o n p u r s u a n t t o the Alabama R u l e s o f C i v i l suspend appeal." The the running of the time for post-judgment Procedure filing a shall notice of filed on (emphasis a d d e d ) ) . Rule 59(e) postjudgment motion Boswell November 24, 2010, was d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w on December 8, 2010. See Rule 5 9 . 1 ( d c ) , A l a . R. a p p l i e s i n the d i s t r i c t ninety (90) days Civ. P. ("Rule 59.1 c o u r t s , except t h a t the time p e r i o d of [that a postjudgment pending] i s reduced to f o u r t e e n 7 motion may remain (14) d a y s u n l e s s w i t h i n that 2110463 t i m e an o r d e r e x t e n d s t h e p e r i o d , not f o r g o o d c a u s e shown, f o r more t h a n an a d d i t i o n a l f o u r t e e n Ala. R. C i v . P. ("A f a i l u r e (14) d a y s . " ) ; R u l e 5 9 . 1 , of the t r i a l c o u r t t o r e n d e r an o r d e r d i s p o s i n g o f any p e n d i n g p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n w i t h i n t h e time permitted hereunder, o r any e x t e n s i o n constitute a denial expiration of the p e r i o d . " ) ; Supermarket, eliminate language P., any in a motion as o f t h e d a t e confusion previous caused by caselaw, we the express language failure by shall of the a n d W i l l i a m s o n v. F o u r t h A v e . I n c . , 12 So. 3d 1200, 1203-04 consistent with Civ. of such thereof, the t r i a l ( A l a . 2009) contrary now imprecise reiterate of Rule court or ("To that, 5 9 . 1 , A l a . R. t o d i s p o s e o f any p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s p e c i f i e d i n R u l e 59.1 constitutes a denial of the motion 'as o f t h e d a t e of the e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e p e r i o d . ' R u l e 5 9 . 1 , A l a . R. C i v . P . " ) . Upon t h e d e n i a l o f h i s R u l e 5 9 ( e ) p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n b y o p e r a t i o n o f l a w on December 8, 2010, B o s w e l l h a d 7 d a y s t o f i l e a t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t o t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t . See §§ 6¬ 6-350 a n d 3 5 - 9 A - 4 6 1 ( d ) . I n Ex p a r t e Brown, 83 So. 3d 512, 515¬ 16 ( A l a . 2 0 1 1 ) , t h e supreme c o u r t h e l d t h a t R u l e 6(a) a p p l i e s to t h e c o m p u t a t i o n o f t h e 7-day p e r i o d 8 for filing a timely 2110463 notice of appeal pursuant t o §§ 6-6-350 and 35-9A-461(d) i n u n l a w f u l - d e t a i n e r a c t i o n s i n v o l v i n g a r e s i d e n t i a l l a n d l o r d and tenant b e f o r e August 1, 2 0 1 1 . Consequently, 3 7-day p e r i o d f o r B o s w e l l t o f i l e the c i r c u i t his c o u r t , we (2) December begin 9 (a the m o t i o n was computation Thursday), S a t u r d a y ) and December 12 and the a t i m e l y n o t i c e of appeal to (1) e x c l u d e December 8, 2010, R u l e 59(e) p o s t j u d g m e n t law, i n computing (3) the date d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f with the exclude following December day, 11 (a (a S u n d a y ) . Computed i n t h a t manner, t h e l a s t day o f t h e 7-day p e r i o d f o r B o s w e l l t o f i l e n o t i c e of appeal to the c i r c u i t c o u r t was a timely December 17, 2010. B o s w e l l d i d not f i l e h i s n o t i c e of appeal to the c i r c u i t c o u r t until December 20, 2010. Therefore, h i s notice of appeal to In A c t No. 2011-700, A l a . A c t s 2011, t h e l e g i s l a t u r e amended t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f "day" i n § 3 5 - 9 A - 1 4 1 ( 3 ) , A l a . Code 1975, e f f e c t i v e A u g u s t 1, 2011, t o p r o v i d e t h a t "day" means a " c a l e n d a r day, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g R u l e 6 o f t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e ; h o w e v e r , i n any c a s e where t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a t i m e p e r i o d i n t h i s c h a p t e r c o n s i s t i n g o f a s p e c i f i c number of d a y s r e s u l t s i n t h e l a s t day o f t h a t t i m e p e r i o d f a l l i n g on a weekend o r an o f f i c i a l h o l i d a y , t h e n t h e l a s t day o f t h a t t i m e p e r i o d s h a l l be c o n s i d e r e d t h e n e x t o f f i c i a l b u s i n e s s day when t h e c o u r t i s o p e n . " T h a t amended d e f i n i t i o n o f "day" does n o t a p p l y t o t h e p r e s e n t c a s e b e c a u s e t h e 7-day p e r i o d f o r B o s w e l l to f i l e a t i m e l y n o t i c e of appeal to the c i r c u i t c o u r t o c c u r r e d b e f o r e t h e A u g u s t 1, 2011, e f f e c t i v e d a t e o f t h a t amended d e f i n i t i o n . 3 9 2110463 the c i r c u i t c o u r t was timely notice of jurisdictional untimely. appeal defect B i r m i n g h a m R e a l t y Co., did Boswell's not 226 So. will an 3d a t 394. not support appellate the circuit 1998), and the court Because the Boswell's a from v. circuit jurisdiction by over the d i s t r i c t court Graham, 716 So. judgment e n t e r e d 2d by 224, the appeal from v. B i r m i n g h a m R e a l t y must appeal Co., to t h i s dismiss an dismiss Boswell's court dismiss Boswell's a Moreover, the c i r c u i t c o u r t ' s v o i d judgment court circuit is o v e r h i s a p p e a l . MPQ subject-matter S i n g l e t o n v. to f i l e court court purporting to adjudicate Boswell's j u d g m e n t , i d . , we to the 3d a t 394. t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s v o i d , see MPQ 78 So. failure circuit judgment e n t e r e d see ( A l a . C i v . App. circuit 78 the remains i n e f f e c t , the jurisdiction acquire appeal, to that prevented acquiring subject-matter court Boswell's to appeal vacate c o u r t . I d . Because appeal appeal i t s void with from a void instructions judgment and to from the d i s t r i c t c o u r t . APPEAL DISMISSED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. Thompson, concur. P.J., and Pittman, 10 Thomas, and Moore, J J . ,

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.