60-309. Relief from default judgment entered on service by publication. (a) Procedure. A party against which a judgment has been entered on service by publication in a newspaper, may, at any time within two years after its entry, move for relief from the judgment and to be allowed to defend. Before such relief may be granted, the movant must serve the motion on the adverse party, file a full answer to the petition, pay all costs if the court requires them to be paid and satisfy the court by affidavit or a declaration pursuant to K.S.A. 53-601, and amendments thereto, that the movant had no actual notice of the action in time to appear. The adverse party may present counter-affidavits or counter-declarations.
(b) Sale for value after three months. If no motion is made under subsection (a) within three months after the date the judgment was entered, a sale of property made to a purchaser for value in reliance on the judgment is not affected by a later-filed motion.
(c) Judicial sales. If property is sold on order of sale under the judgment from which relief is sought, the sale is not affected by a motion under subsection (a). Unless the court finds from affidavits, declarations pursuant to K.S.A. 53-601, and amendments thereto, or other evidence that actual notice was given before judgment to the parties served only by publication, the court must impound the proceeds of the sale and not distribute them until: (1) Three months have elapsed after the date the judgment was entered; or (2) a motion under subsection (a), if brought within the three-month period, is disposed of and the right to the impounded proceeds determined.
(d) Bond in lieu of impounding proceeds. In lieu of impounding the proceeds of sale as provided in subsection (c), any party having an interest under the judgment may give a bond, to be approved by the court, for the payment of an amount not exceeding the amount of the proceeds of sale to other persons found to be entitled to the proceeds.
History: L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-309; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 154; July 1.
Source or prior law:
G.S. 1868, ch. 80, § 77; L. 1909, ch. 182, § 83; R.S. 1923, 60-2530.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
"Highlights of the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure (1963)," Spencer A. Gard, 2 W.L.J. 199, 202 (1962).
"Abstracts—Is There a Better Way?" J. B. McKay, 36 J.B.A.K. 85, 152 (1967).
CASE ANNOTATIONS
Prior law cases, see G.S. 1949, 60-2530 and the 1961 Supp. thereto.
1. Term, full answer discussed; proposed answer, held full answer. Campbell v. Nako Corporation, 195 Kan. 66, 68, 75, 402 P.2d 771.
2. Procedure afforded by section not available; motion to set aside judgment. Sharp v. Sharp, 196 Kan. 38, 41, 409 P.2d 1019.
3. Setting aside of judgment against multiple defendants having interrelated interests and inseparable defenses operates as to all codefendants. Campbell v. Nako Corporation, 198 Kan. 421, 422, 423, 426, 427, 428, 424 P.2d 586.
4. Purpose and application of section considered; statute does not contemplate vacation of void judgment. American Home Life Ins. Co. v. Heide, 199 Kan. 652, 654, 657, 433 P.2d 454.
5. Prior law (G.S. 1949, 60-2530) cited and discussed in tax lien foreclosure case. Pierce v. Board of County Commissioners, 200 Kan. 74, 75, 78, 79, 434 P.2d 858.
6. Conditions which must precede the granting of relief discussed. Cadwallader v. Lehman, 202 Kan. 738, 751, 451 P.2d 163.
7. Provisions of K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq. establish exclusive procedure for foreclosure of tax liens and sale of real estate thereunder, including the opening, vacating or setting aside of judgments. Chapin v. Aylward, 204 Kan. 448, 454, 464 P.2d 177.
8. Section inapplicable in case attacking adoption decree on allegations of fraud; K.S.A. 60-260(b) applicable; action barred. Jones v. Jones, 215 Kan. 102, 114, 523 P.2d 743.
9. Mentioned in holding trial court erred in failing to set aside default judgment rendered before statutory notice requirement of K.S.A. 60-255 met. Hood v. Haynes, 7 Kan. App. 2d 591, 592, 644 P.2d 1371 (1982).
10. Cited in holding K.S.A. 79-2804b inapplicable where lack of personal jurisdiction rendered tax title void. Ford v. Willits, 9 Kan. App. 2d 735, 744, 688 P.2d 1230 (1984).
11. Whether party served by publication only may reopen default judgment within two years of judgment examined. Bank Western v. Henderson, 255 Kan. 343, 347, 352, 874 P.2d 632 (1994).
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