Joshua Adams v. MBA Foundation ( 2019 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2018-CA-00497-COA
JOSHUA ADAMS APPELLANT
v.
MBA FOUNDATION D/B/A MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
BASKETBALL & ATHLETICS
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/02/2018
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JEFF WEILL SR.
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: DENNIS C. SWEET III
DENNIS CHARLES SWEET IV
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: CRANE D. KIPP
REX MORRIS SHANNON III
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - PERSONAL INJURY
DISPOSITION: REVERSED AND REMANDED - 06/04/2019
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
McDONALD, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Joshua Adams appeals the Hinds County Circuit Court’s order that reversed a Hinds
County County Court’s judgment granting him an extension of time to serve process on
Mississippi Basketball & Athletics (MBA). The circuit court also granted MBA’s summary
judgment motion and dismissed the case on statute of limitation grounds. Finding that the
circuit court abused its discretion, we reverse.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. On May 4, 2014, Adams was working as a referee during a basketball tournament held
at MBA’s facility. Adams and Justin Griffin, a basketball coach, had an argument that
escalated into a more serious altercation in the parking lot. As a result of the fight, Griffin
suffered a head injury that sadly caused his death two days later.
¶3. Adams contends that he also suffered severe injuries as a result of the altercation.
Adams filed a complaint on May 1, 2017— three days prior to the running of the three-year
statute of limitations—against MBA; Mississippi Boys Hoops Inc.; and Amateur Athletics
Union, alleging negligent hiring, retention, and supervision or control of Griffin.
¶4. On May 10, 2017, Adams filed a motion to transfer the case to circuit court and
argued he inadvertently wrote “county court” instead of “circuit court” on the complaint
because his damages exceeded the county court’s jurisdictional limits of $200,000.
¶5. Prior to a ruling on the motion to transfer, Adams served two of the three defendants.1
But Adams had difficulty serving MBA. According to the Secretary of the State’s website,
MBA’s registered agent was Jeffery Lewis, whose address was 105 Kenilworth Place,
Ridgeland, Mississippi. Adams’s process server made six attempts to serve MBA within
120-days, but neither Lewis nor anyone else answered the door. On the 121st day, August
30, 2017, Adams filed a motion for an extension of time to serve MBA and stated the
following in his Motion:
Plaintiff’s process server has tried serving the defendant on numerous
occasions. Despite diligent efforts, Plaintiffs process server has not been
able to effectuate process on Defendant.
(Emphasis added).
1
Mississippi Boys Hoops Inc. was served on June 14, 2017. Amateur Athletics
Union was served on June 27, 2017.
2
¶6. The county court granted the motion on September 11, 2017, stating:
This matter came before the Court on the Plaintiff’s Motion For Extension of
Time To Serve Process on the defendants in this cause, and the Court, after
considering said motion, finds that it is well taken and should be granted.
(Emphasis added). Plaintiff was given an additional 120-days to serve MBA.
¶7. On October 10, 2017, Plaintiff had the Madison County Sheriff’s Office attempt
service on Lewis at the address listed on the Secretary of State’s website. But the deputy was
also unsuccessful.
¶8. On October 24, 2017, the county court transferred the case to the circuit court.
¶9. Finally, on November 17, 2017, Lewis was served by a private process server, Terrell
Wells, at the MBA facility in Jackson where Lewis worked.
¶10. On December 12, 2017, MBA filed a motion in the circuit court to set aside the county
court’s order granting Adams an extension of time to serve process upon MBA and for
summary judgment based upon its statute of limitations defense. MBA asserted it was
entitled to summary judgment because Adams failed to show good cause for an extension of
time to serve MBA and that Adams’s claims were therefore time barred. MBA argued that
Adams provided no facts and did not submit any affidavits or other evidentiary support with
his motion when it was filed in the county court.2
¶11. Adams filed a response to MBA’s motion to set aside the order and for summary
judgment on December 30, 2017. Adams provided the affidavit of Terrell Wells, the process
2
“Good cause” is required for the granting of an extension of time after the initial
120-days to serve process has expired. See M.R.C.P. 4(h). Notably, MBA has provided no
authority that affidavits are required when seeking an extension of time to serve process past
the 120-days.
3
server, who stated that he attempted to serve MBA on more than six occasions at the address
listed for the registered agent on the Secretary of State’s website. Wells’s affidavit also
mentioned vehicles were in the driveway, but no one answered the door. Additionally,
Adams provided the circuit court with documentation dated October, 10, 2017, from the
Deputy Sheriff of Madison County, Randall Tucker, who stated he too was unable to serve
MBA at that address.
¶12. A hearing was held on MBA’s motion to set aside the county court’s order granting
Adams’s motion for an extension of time and for summary judgment. The circuit court found
that the county court’s order should be set aside, and MBA’s motion for summary judgment
was granted on the ground of statute of limitations.
¶13. Adams timely appealed to this Court.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶14. This Court looks for abuse of discretion when reviewing a ruling court’s decision on
whether to set aside an order granting an extension of time. Copiah Cty. Sch. Dist. v.
Buckner, 61 So. 3d 162, 166 (¶12) (Miss. 2011); Booth v. Williams, 200 So. 3d 1053, 1057
(¶11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). “This Court leaves to the discretion of the trial court the finding
of fact on the existence of good cause or excusable neglect for delay in serving process under
Rule 4(h).” Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶12). Further, our courts “will reverse if the trial
court’s discretion was abused or its decision was not supported by substantial evidence.” Id.
at 166 (¶12). Moreover, “we review the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment
de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom the
4
motion has been made.” Karpinsky v. Am. Nat. Ins. Co., 109 So. 3d 84, 88 (¶9) (Miss. 2013).
DISCUSSION
I. Whether the circuit court abused its discretion by setting aside the
county court’s 120-day extension of time.
¶15. This case is unique because it involves the rulings of two trial courts in the pre-trial
stages of a case. The county court granted Adams’s motion for extension of time. When the
case was transferred, the circuit court set aside the county court’s ruling finding that Adams
failed to establish good cause to extend the time for service of process. Adams raises two
issues on appeal: (1) whether he demonstrated good cause for failing to serve MBA within
120-days and (2) whether the county court’s ruling is the “law of the case.” We find that the
circuit court abused its discretion regarding whether Adams demonstrated good cause for the
extension of time. Our resolution of the first issue renders discussion of the “law of the case”
argument unnecessary.
¶16. Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h) states:
Summons: Time Limit for Service. If a service of the summons and
complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days after the filing of the
complaint and the party on whose behalf such service was required cannot
show good cause why such service was not made within that period, the action
shall be dismissed as to that defendant without prejudice upon the court's own
initiative with notice to such party or upon motion.
M.R.C.P. 4(h).3
¶17. Although it is preferred that a plaintiff petition the court for an extension of time prior
to, rather than after, the expiration of the 120-day period, this failure is not fatal to the action
3
Adams’s motion was filed one day after 120 days had passed.
5
because “a motion for extension of time may be filed after the 120-day time period has
expired.” Darville v. Mejia, 184 So. 3d 312, 317 (¶16) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). After the
expiration of the 120-days, “an extension of time to serve process continues to toll the statute
of limitations only if granted for good cause.” Heard v. Remy, 937 So. 2d 939, 943 (¶5)
(Miss. 2006). The burden is on the plaintiff to demonstrate good cause for a failure to serve
process in a timely manner. Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶14). “To establish ‘good cause’ the
plaintiff must demonstrate at least as much as would be required to show excusable neglect,
‘as to which simple inadvertence or mistake of counsel or ignorance of the rules usually does
not suffice.’” Id. at 166 (¶14). “To meet the burden of proof of good cause, the plaintiff
must demonstrate that a diligent effort was made to effect timely service.” Id. at 166 (¶14).
Additionally, the supreme court has held that good cause exists in these instances:
[W]hen the failure is a result of the conduct of a third person; when the
defendant has evaded service of process or engaged in misleading conduct;
when the plaintiff has acted diligently; when there are understandable
mitigating circumstances; or when the plaintiff is proceeding pro se or in
forma pauperis.
Foss v. Williams, 993 So. 2d 378, 379 (¶6) (Miss. 2008).
¶18. The circuit court found that Adams failed to meet his burden of good cause because:
(1) the affidavit provided was not specific and did not include the requisite factual
information; (2) there was no evidence that Lewis was home when service was attempted or
that he deliberately evaded service; and (3) there was no evidence explaining why attempts
were made at the single location of Lewis’s home. As mentioned above, our supreme court
has held that there are alternative instances in which good cause can exist. Foss, 993 So. 2d
6
at 379 (¶5). These instances are noted disjunctively rather than conjunctively; therefore,
there is no requirement that one prove more than one instance for a showing of good cause.4
After analyzing the facts and the law, we find that the circuit court erred in failing to find
good cause for the extension of time. This court finds that Adams acted diligently in his
efforts to serve MBA.
a. Whether the motion and order included “good cause”
language.
¶19. Before addressing why the circuit erred it is imperative to note that Adams’s motion
for extension of time properly included “good cause” language. Although Adams’s motion
for an extension of time to serve MBA did not specifically state the words “good cause,” it
used the language of good cause when it stated that the process server made “diligent efforts”
to serve MBA. Foss, 993 So. 2d at 379 (¶5) (finding that good cause can be demonstrated
by a plaintiff’s diligent efforts to serve the defendant). The motion stated that “Plaintiff’s
process server has tried serving the defendant on numerous occasions. Despite diligent
efforts, Plaintiff[’]s process server has not been able to effectuate process on Defendant.”
Therefore, the county court properly found good cause when it incorporated the motion with
its order “after considering said motion [this Court] finds that it is well taken and should be
granted.”
¶20. The dissent relies upon Heard, 937 So. 2d at 944 (¶21), for the support that the circuit
court was correct when it found that Adams failed to show good cause because the county
4
The circuit court as well as the dissent requires more for a showing of “good cause”
than our supreme court requires.
7
court’s order did not address the issue of good cause. In Heard, the plaintiff filed a motion
for an extension of time after the initial 120-days had expired and the trial court granted the
motion like in this case. Id. at 940 (¶3). But the Heard plaintiff never attempted service
within the initial 120-day period as was done in the present case. Id. at 944 (¶20). “The trial
court granted heard an additional 60 days within which to serve process, but it did not make
any findings as to whether Heard had shown good cause for her failure to serve.” Id. at 940
(¶3). The order specifically stated:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that the Plaintiff,
is hereby granted an additional 60 days from the date of entry of this order
within which to serve process on the defendant. . . .
The order in Heard made absolutely no finding of good cause and is inapposite to the case
at bar. Id.
b. Whether supporting evidence has to be attached to a motion.
¶21. The dissent also repeatedly recites that Adams had not attached any affidavit or
evidence to his motion for an extension of time. Yet, the dissent cites no caselaw holding
this. Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h) does not establish a requirement of a
supporting affidavit to establish good cause unlike Rule 56 for the purposes of a summary
judgment motion. Neither the comment nor the case law require an affidavit to be filed with
a motion for an extension of time.
¶22. Furthermore, Adams’s diligent efforts consisted of six separate attempts to serve
MBA at the registered agent’s listed address on the Secretary of State’s website prior to the
expiration of the 120-day deadline. Adams provided this information to the circuit court
8
when it considered MBA’s motion to set aside and summary judgment. Adams’s affidavit
provided:
I made attempts between May 1, 2017 until August 29, 2017, to serve Jeffrey
Lewis, Registered Agent for MBA, whose address with the Secretary of State
is listed at 105 Kinelworth Place, Ridgeland, MS, on more than six occasions.
There were vehicles in the driveway each time that I attempted to serve Mr.
Lewis, but there was never an answer at the door.
Therefore, this concern has no barring on whether Adams showed good cause.
c. Whether Adams’s affidavit lacked specific dates.
¶23. The circuit court’s first error was finding no good cause because Adams’s affidavit
did not list specific dates. The circuit court stated that “the affidavit . . . provides no
information regarding specific dates or the times of day when service was attempted . . . [i]n
the absence of requisite factual information, the Court finds that these documents do not
constitute requisite evidence of good cause [pursuant to Stutts v. Miller, 37 So. 3d 1 (Miss.
2010)].” We disagree.
¶24. Stutts does not lend support to the circuit court or the dissent’s argument. In Stutts,
the court never required the affidavits to contain specific dates; the court simply noted the
efforts by plaintiff to obtain service. Id. at 5 (¶13). The fatal flaw in Stutts was that the
plaintiff failed to request even one extension. Id. at 4 (¶11). The supreme court found a lack
of diligence when plaintiffs fail to file a motion for an extension of time. Id. at 6 (¶16).
¶25. Unlike the plaintiff in Stutts, Adams showed diligence by filing a motion for an
extension of time merely one day after the initial 120-days. Also, Adams’s affidavit provided
the specific time range when service was attempted within the initial 120-days (between May
9
1, 2017 and August 29, 2017). The dissent narrates a host of possibilities pertaining to
whether service was attempted in the beginning, middle or end of the initial 120 days and
even wonders what time of the day the service was attempted. This speculation by the
dissent overlooks the important undisputed fact that service was attempted on six different
occasions at MBA’s registered agent’s address provided on the Mississippi Secretary of
State’s website within the initial 120-days deadline.
d. Whether evidence provided that the defendant was home or
evading service of process.
¶26. Second, the circuit court erred when it concluded that good cause was not shown
because Adams failed to provide evidence that Lewis, the registered agent (1) was home
when his process server attempted service, or (2) that Lewis deliberately evaded service,
citing Ogunbor v. May, 204 So. 3d 840, 847 (¶32) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). Although Adams
argued that MBA evaded service of process at the hearing before the circuit court and in his
brief, Adams was not required to show that MBA’s registered agent was evading service of
process because that is only one of the several alternative instances where the supreme court
has recognized good cause. Foss, 993 So. 2d at 379 (¶5). Good cause can also be shown if
a plaintiff has acted diligently, as we find that Adams has. Id. at 379 (¶5).
e. Whether failure to attempt service at more than one location
shows “no good cause.”
¶27. Lastly, the circuit court stated Adams failed to show good cause because service was
only attempted at Lewis’s home. The cases cited by the circuit court as well as the dissent
provide poor support for its conclusion that in order to show good cause one must attempt
10
service at more than one location, citing Ogunbor v. May, 204 So. 3d 840, 847 (¶31) (Miss.
Ct. App. 2016); Young v. Hooker, 753 So. 2d 456, 461 (¶20) (Miss. Ct. App. 1999).
¶28. In Ogunbor, the plaintiff argued good cause existed because the defendant was
evading service of process. Ogunbor, 204 So. 3d at 846 (¶27). This Court did not hold that
a plaintiff must attempt service of process at more than one location in order to show good
cause. See id. at 847 (¶31). Rather, this Court found that Ogunbor failed to provide any
evidence of evading. Id. Ogunbor is therefore distinguishable from the case at bar which
exemplifies good cause due to diligent efforts as opposed to good cause because a defendant
was evading service of process.
¶29. Young can be distinguished from the case at bar. In Young, the plaintiff did not
request an extension of time to serve the defendant. Young, 753 So. 2d at 458 (¶3). The
plaintiff attempted to serve the defendant only twice, then “gave up.” Id. The defendant told
someone to inform the plaintiff where he could be served, yet service was never attempted.
Id. at 459 (¶6). Mutual acquaintances of the parties testified that they could have easily
located the defendant for plaintiff. Although the plaintiff was aware of persons with
information regarding the whereabouts of the defendant, he never sought out such
information. Therefore, because the plaintiff could have easily found the defendant and
failed to request an extension of time, there was no good cause shown.
¶30. In the present case, Adams requested and was granted an extension of time to serve
MBA. The record does not provide substantial evidence that MBA’s registered agent’s
whereabouts were known, should have been known, or could have been known to Adams.
11
Nothing in the record shows that Adams knew Lewis or people that associated with Lewis.
The only evidence provided is that Lewis was ultimately served at his workplace where the
incident occurred. Generally, the agent for service of process is not found at the site where
the cause of action accrued. There is no record evidence that MBA’s registered agent’s
whereabouts were known, should or even could have been known. Therefore, Young is not
on point.
f. Whether good cause was shown.
¶31. This case is analogous to Darville v. Mejia, 184 So. 3d 312 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016), and
Jenkins v. Oswald, 3 So. 3d 746 (Miss. 2009).
¶32. In Darville, the plaintiff had difficulty locating the defendant and filed four motions
for an extension of time to serve the defendant. Darville, 184 So. 3d at 317 (¶17). The
plaintiff’s third motion is relevant to this opinion. The third motion for an extension of time
“not[ed] extensive efforts to locate the defendant,” “but to no avail[,]” and the ruling court
denied the motion. Id. at 316 (¶14). On appeal, this Court considered Darville’s efforts since
the filing of his complaint. Id. at 317 (¶17). For a period of almost two years—April 26,
2012 to February 25, 2014—Darville attempted to serve the defendant, sent certified
summons to several addresses, subpoenaed the defendant’s driving records, completed a
social security number search, attempted to serve the defendant through his insurance
company, and submitted service of process to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office
which defendant responded to. Id. at 316-17 (¶¶ 2, 14, 17). This Court reversed the trial
court and found that the plaintiff’s efforts were diligent and constituted good cause. Id. at
12
318 (¶19). Darville may have made more efforts but it was over the course of two years, four
times as long as Adams.
¶33. In Jenkins, the defendant was served almost five years after the initial filing of the
complaint and plaintiff failed to file a motion for extension of time. Jenkins, 3 So. 3d. at 747
(¶2). In nearly five years, the plaintiff’s efforts consisted of an attempted service at the
defendant’s Mississippi address, an inquiry with the United States Postal Service about any
new mailing address for the defendant, an attempted service at the defendant’s Florida
address, internet searches, and contact with the Secretary of State’s Office for the defendant’s
business address where service was effectuated. Id. at 747-48 (¶¶4-5). The ruling court
stated that the plaintiff was making “some diligence, or at least reasonably diligent efforts”
and denied the defendant’s motion to quash service of process and dismiss the action. Id. at
749 (¶11). Our supreme court affirmed. Id. at 750 (¶16). Again, there may have been more
efforts, but these efforts were made over the course of nearly five years, as opposed to
Adams’s efforts in 120 days.
¶34. Here, Adams filed his complaint on May 1, 2017, and MBA was served within six
months. Within the initial 120 days, Adams’s process server made six diligent attempts to
serve MBA by going to its registered agent’s address listed on the Mississippi Secretary of
State’s website. There was no need for Adams to perform an internet search because
MBA’s registered agent’s address is undisputed. In fact, in MBA’s answer it conceded, “[it]
may be served with process by service upon its registered agent, Jeffery Kelley, 105
Kenilworth Place, Ridgeland, Mississippi, 39157. . . .” After six unsuccessful attempts,
13
Adams filed a motion for extension of time only one day after the 120-day requirement had
passed. Traveling under an order granting Adams an additional 120 days, Adams diversified
his efforts. On October 10, 2017, Adams attempted to serve MBA through the Madison
County Deputy Sheriff’s office, but to no avail. Finally, on November 17, 2017, Lewis was
served at the MBA facility. Adams attempted three different methods to serve MBA and one
of those methods included six attempts within 120 days.
¶35. We find that Adams “demonstrat[ed] at least as much as would be required to show
excusable neglect.” Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶14). This was not a case of “simple
inadvertence or mistake of counsel or ignorance of the rules[,]” but this was a case of diligent
efforts made by a plaintiff to serve the defendant which demonstrates good cause. Id. at 166
(¶14). As before mentioned, our supreme court has held that there are alternative ways to
show good cause. Foss, 993 So. 2d at 379 (¶5). Accordingly, Adams showed good cause
through his diligent efforts and the circuit court abused its discretion in setting aside the
county court’s order that granted his motion for an extension of time to serve MBA.
II. Whether the circuit erred in granting MBA’s summary judgment
motion.
¶36. The grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment is reviewed de novo, viewing
the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion has been
made.” Karpinsky, 109 So. 3d at 88 (¶9). After the expiration of the 120 days, if good cause
is shown an extension of time to serve process continues to toll the statute of limitations.
Heard, 937 So. 2d at 943 (¶5) (“Where good cause is shown for an extension of time to serve
process, and process is served within the time allowed, the statute of limitations will be tolled
14
during the extension period.”). Because we find that Adam’s showed good cause for his
extension of time to serve MBA, the statute of limitations was tolled. Thus, the circuit court
also erred when granting MBA’s motion for summary judgment.
CONCLUSION
¶37. This Court finds that Adams met his burden of showing “good cause” under
Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure 4(h). For the reasons stated, we find that the circuit
court abused its discretion in setting aside the county court’s order and granting MBA’s
motion for summary judgment. Therefore, we reverse and remand this case to the circuit
court in accordance with this opinion.
¶38. REVERSED AND REMANDED.
BARNES, C.J., GREENLEE, WESTBROOKS, TINDELL, LAWRENCE AND
McCARTY, JJ., CONCUR. CARLTON, P.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE
WRITTEN OPINION, JOINED BY J. WILSON, P.J., AND C. WILSON, J.
CARLTON, P.J., DISSENTING:
¶39. Applying the deferential standard of review as required here, I dissent because I
cannot find that the circuit court abused its discretion in setting aside the county court’s ex
parte order granting Adams’s motion for an extension of time within which to serve his
complaint on MBA. I further find no error in the circuit court’s decision to grant summary
judgment in MBA’s favor.
I. Good Cause
¶40. As detailed in the majority’s opinion, on May 4, 2014, Adams was working as a
referee in a basketball tournament at MBA’s facility when he was involved in an altercation
15
with a basketball coach. Adams subsequently sued MBA and others for negligence-based
claims arising out of injuries he allegedly incurred during that incident. Adams filed his
complaint on May 1, 2017, just three days before the governing three-year statute of
limitations period ran.5 Under Rule 4(h) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, Adams
had 120 days after the filing of his complaint within which to serve MBA. In this case,
Adams did not effectuate service on MBA within this 120-day period, nor did he move for
additional time until after the 120-day time period had expired. Under these circumstances,
“an extension of time to serve process continues to toll the statute of limitations only if
granted for good cause.” Heard, 937 So. 2d at 943 (¶5).
¶41. “We review a trial court’s decision on whether to set aside an order granting an
extension of time for abuse of discretion.” Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 165 (¶12). With respect
to a trial court’s “good cause” determination under Rule 4(h), the Mississippi Supreme Court
has consistently recognized that “[a] trial court’s finding of fact on the existence of good
cause for the delay in service of process has been deemed a discretionary ruling . . . and
entitled to deferential review.” Fulgham v. Jackson, 234 So. 3d 279, 282 (¶9) (Miss. 2017)
(internal quotation mark omitted); Jenkins v. Oswald, 3 So. 3d 746, 750 (¶13) (Miss. 2009).
“With regard to these fact-findings, our review is limited to determining only whether the
trial court abused its discretion and whether there was substantial evidence supporting the
determination.” Fulgham, 234 So. 3d at 282 (¶9) (internal quotation mark omitted); Heard,
5
The parties do not dispute that the general three-year limitations period under
Mississippi Code Annotated section 15-1-49 (Rev. 2012) applies to Adams’s negligence-
based claims against MBA and the other defendants.
16
937 So. 2d at 944 (¶21).
¶42. The plaintiff bears the burden to demonstrate good cause for failure to serve process
within the 120-day service period provided by Rule 4(h). Montgomery v. SmithKline
Beecham Corp., 910 So. 2d 541, 545 (¶12) (Miss. 2005); M.R.C.P. 4(h). In order to meet
this burden, Adams was required to present substantial evidence “that a diligent effort was
made to effect timely service.” Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶14).
¶43. The record reflects that after failing to serve MBA within 120 days of filing his
lawsuit, Adams filed a motion in the county court for an extension of time to serve MBA.
As grounds for seeking this extension, Adams’s motion provided that “Plaintiff’s process
server has tried serving the defendant on numerous occasions. Despite diligent efforts,
Plaintiff’s process server has not been able to effectuate process on Defendant.” No
supporting evidence was attached to the motion.
¶44. The county court granted the motion, ex parte, on September 14, 2017, ten days after
the statute of limitations expired. There is no indication in the record that the county court
held a hearing on the motion or that any evidence had been submitted in support of the
motion. In its one-page order, the county court did not address the issue of good cause or
make any finding of “good cause,” as required by the applicable case law. See, e.g., Heard,
937 So. 2d at 944 (¶21).6
6
In its order, the county court stated that “after considering [Adams’s] motion, [the
court] finds that it is well taken and should be granted.” The majority believes this
constitutes a finding of “good cause” because Adams’s motion stated that his process server
used “diligent efforts” to attempt service. I do not agree with this assessment. Adams
submitted no evidence at all to the county court in support of any “diligent efforts” he, his
counsel, or the process server took to effectuate service within the applicable 120-day time
17
¶45. As reflected in the record, on November 17, 2017, 200 days after filing his lawsuit,
and seventy-seven days after the statute of limitations expired, Adams served process on
MBA’s registered agent, Jeffery Lewis, at his workplace and at MBA’s principal place of
business, the MBA complex in Jackson, where the underlying events giving rise to the
lawsuit occurred. MBA moved to (1) set aside the county court’s order granting an extension
of time to serve MBA based upon Adams’s failure to show “good cause” for his delayed
service of process; and (2) for summary judgment because Adams’s lawsuit against it was
time-barred.
¶46. In response to MBA’s motion to set aside the county court’s ex parte order, Adams
relied upon the affidavit of his process server as evidence of his efforts to effect service on
MBA during the initial 120-day service period. Adams’s process server stated that during
this 120-day period (from May 1 to August 29, 2017), he attempted service on Lewis at the
address listed on the Secretary of State’s website. The transcript of the hearing on the motion
to set aside the county court’s order reflects that this address was Lewis’s home address. The
process server’s affidavit provides that attempts at service at Lewis’s home address were
made “on more than six occasions” and that there were “vehicles in the driveway each
time[,]. . . but there was never an answer at the door.” Other than stating that these attempts
took place between May 1 and August 29, 2017, there were no specified dates or times in the
process server’s affidavit evidencing when these attempts at service occurred.
¶47. Adams also submitted a Sheriff’s return from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office,
period allowed under Rule 4(h).
18
reflecting attempted service on Lewis on October 10, 2017—after the 120-day period for
service of process had already expired. The return did not reflect where service had been
attempted and only provided the following: “Multiple attempts. Won[’]t answer door.”
Adams presented no other evidence in responding to MBA’s motion to set aside the county
court’s order.
¶48. As an initial matter, I find no error in the circuit court’s determination that it would
not consider the sheriff’s return that reflected attempted service on Lewis on October 10,
2017. Adams was required to show good cause for failing to serve MBA within the initial
120-day service period; October 10, 2017, is outside that 120-day period. See Montgomery,
910 So. 2d at 545 (¶12); M.R.C.P. 4(h).
¶49. The only other “good cause” evidence that Adams presented was his process server’s
affidavit in which the process server described his six attempts to serve Lewis at his home
address. The circuit court found that the lack of information in the process server’s affidavit
regarding specific dates or the times of day when service was attempted upon Lewis at his
residence made the affidavit insufficient evidence of good cause. I find no abuse of
discretion in this determination. See Stutts v. Miller, 37 So. 3d 1, 5 (¶¶13, 16) (Miss. 2010)
(lack of pertinent factual information in the affidavits offered by plaintiff to support “good
cause” was referred to by the supreme court as one reason for its finding that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in ruling that the plaintiff failed to show good cause for not timely
serving defendants).7 Without specific dates and times, there was no way for the circuit court
7
The majority’s reading of Stutts v. Miller appears to be that the supreme court did
not consider the lack of specificity in the plaintiff’s “good cause” affidavits when it found
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to assess whether service was diligently pursued. For example, attempting service early in
the 120-day period, and attempting service at various times of day, may have indicated a
diligent effort was made. But here, there is no indication when the process server began
attempting service—did he begin as soon as the 120 days began running, did he wait until
the final days of the 120-day period, or did he attempt service at some point in between? Nor
could the circuit court determine what time the process server repeatedly attempted to serve
Lewis at his home. Was it the same time of day, or did he try different times throughout the
day and evening or different days of the week? The process server’s affidavit contained none
of this pertinent factual evidence.
¶50. In determining that Adams failed to show good cause for his delay in serving MBA,
the circuit court found it relevant that Adams presented no evidence that during the 120-day
period any attempt was made to serve Lewis at his workplace and MBA’s principal place of
business—the MBA complex in Jackson, where the underlying events of this lawsuit
occurred, and where service was eventually effectuated on November 17, 2017. Instead, the
process server repeatedly attempted to serve Lewis at his home during the 120-day service
period, and, as the circuit court observed, Adams offered no explanation why attempts at
service were limited to that single location for months. I find no abuse of discretion in the
circuit court’s determination that this weighs against a finding of good cause, as it
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling that plaintiff had failed to show good
cause. With respect, I disagree. In its concluding paragraph on this issue, the supreme court
referred to “the reasons previously stated” as support for its decision. Stutts, 37 So. 3d at
6 (¶16). I read this to include the lack of specificity in the affidavits relied upon by the
plaintiff in attempting to show good cause, as “previously” described in paragraph 13 of the
supreme court’s decision. Id. at 5 (¶13).
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demonstrates lack of diligence on Adams’s part. See Ogunbor v. May, 204 So. 3d 840, 847
(¶31) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016) (finding that plaintiff failed to show good cause for failure to
timely serve the defendant where the proof offered did not support a determination that the
defendant evaded process, nor did the proof offered indicate that the process server ever
attempted to serve the defendant anywhere other than at one location); Young v. Hooker, 753
So. 2d 456, 461 (¶20) (Miss. Ct. App. 1999) (finding substantial evidence supported the
chancellor’s finding of no good cause where defendant’s “whereabouts either were known,
should have been known or could have easily been known” to plaintiff).
¶51. The majority finds that the “diligence” determination in Darville v. Mejia, 184 So. 3d
312 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016), supports reversal of the circuit court’s decision to set aside the
county court’s order granting Adams an extension to serve MBA. With respect, I do not
agree. In Darville, this Court held that the trial court abused its discretion in denying
Darville’s motions for additional time to serve Mejia based upon the following: Darville
attempted to locate Mejia “through numerous internet searches,” id. at 317 (¶17); summonses
were issued via certified mail to several addresses, id. at 316 (¶14); and Darville “issued
subpoenas duces tecum to Tennessee and Mississippi to obtain Mejia’s driving records/car
license and registration, . . . and [had a search performed that] revealed that Mejia’s Social
Security number was linked to multiple people.” Id. at 316-17 (¶14). The Court further
observed, “[a]s noted by Darville, ‘as of this date, [Mejia] has not and [cannot] be located
by [Darville], the courts, nor his own insurance carrier, UAIC.’” Id. at 318 (¶18).
¶52. In contrast to the facts in the case before us, Darville is wholly distinguishable, and
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I do not find it instructive. The only evidence before the circuit court in this case was that
Adams’s process server tried to serve Lewis six times at home during the 120-day period.
The circuit court had no specific information about dates or time, nor was there any evidence
of searches made during the 120-day period for other locations where Lewis may be found.
Further, process was ultimately effectuated (out-of-time) once the individual served Lewis
with process at his workplace—a location that “should have been known or could have easily
been known” to Adams because it was also MBA’s principal of business and the location
where the alleged incident occurred. See Young, 753 So. 2d at 461 (¶20). Under these facts,
I find that the trial court was within its discretion in finding that Adams did not show good
cause for failing to timely serve MBA and in setting aside the county court’s ex parte order.
¶53. The circuit court also found that Adams “presented no evidence that [Lewis] was
actually home when service was attempted or that he deliberately evaded service, thereby
precluding a finding of good cause on this basis [(i.e., that Lewis “dodged” process)].” The
majority discounts this finding because avoiding service is just one alternative for supporting
a “good cause” determination. I agree that proof of a defendant evading service is just one
alternative for supporting a “good cause” determination, and that the supreme court has
recognized several alternative instances where good cause exists. See, e.g., Foss, 993 So. 2d
at 379 (¶6). I address this factor, however, because Adams argued this basis at the hearing
before the circuit court and, in his appellant’s brief, Adams asserts that “there is evidence that
[Lewis] avoided service of process because [there were] cars parked in front of the house yet
no one would answer the door.” I find no abuse of discretion in the circuit court’s
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determination that this information, alone, does not constitute a showing that Lewis evaded
process. See Ogunbor, 204 So. 3d at, 847 (¶30); Moore ex rel. Moore v. Boyd, 799 So. 2d
133, 136-37 (¶¶11-12) (Miss. Ct. App. 2001).
¶54. As noted above, the circuit court’s ruling on the “good cause” issue is a “discretionary
ruling . . . and entitled to deferential review.” Fulgham, 234 So. 3d at 282 (¶9) (internal
quotation mark omitted). Based upon this deferential standard, the record before us, and the
applicable case law, I cannot say that the circuit court abused its discretion in ruling that
Adams failed to meet his burden of establishing good cause for his failure to timely serve
MBA and in setting aside the county court’s ex parte order on this basis. Adams’s efforts do
not constitute the requisite substantial evidence that he was diligent in attempting to serve
Lewis, nor did Adams present substantial evidence that Lewis avoided process. I would,
therefore, affirm the circuit court’s decision on this point.
II. “Law of the Case”
¶55. Adams asserts that the circuit court committed reversible error in overturning the
county court’s ruling because that ruling established the controlling “law of the case.” The
majority did not address this argument because its resolution on the “good cause” issue
rendered unnecessary a discussion of the “law-of-the-case” issue. Because I find that the
circuit court’s ruling on the good cause issue should be affirmed, I also discuss Adams’s
“law-of-the-case” argument.
¶56. The “law-of-the-case” doctrine does not apply to the county court’s ex parte order
granting Adams more time to serve MBA, and thus I find Adams’s “law-of-the-case”
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argument without merit. The “law-of-the-case” doctrine generally concerns the preclusive
effect of an appellate decision on subsequent proceedings in the same case involving the
same issues and facts—not an interim ruling like the county court’s ex parte order. See Lee
v. Thompson, 167 So. 3d 170, 177 (¶18) (Miss. 2014) (“If a second appeal involves the same
issues and the same facts as a prior appeal, the law established in the prior appeal ordinarily
applies under the law of the case doctrine.”); Holcomb v. McClure, 217 Miss. 617, 621, 64
So. 2d 689, 691 (1953) (“[T]he rule in this State is that the law of the case as established on
a first appeal will normally and ordinarily control on later trials and appeals of the same case
involving the same issues and facts.”); see generally, 5 Am. Jur. 2d Appellate Review § 522
at 360 (2018) (“The doctrine of the law of the case generally prohibits reconsideration of
issues which have been decided by the same court, or a higher court, in a prior appeal in the
same case.”).8 In short, the county court’s ruling is not the “law of the case” because “[t]he
law-of-the-case doctrine requires a dispositive, final ruling on a question of law. . . . And the
law-of-the-case doctrine has no applicability where the order or judgment is not of a final
character.” Elliott v. AmeriGas Propane L.P., 249 So. 3d 389, 399-400 (¶46) (Miss. 2018).
The county court’s ex parte order was not a final, dispositive ruling. Under Rule 54 of the
8
The cases cited by Adams in support of his “law-of-the-case” argument likewise
concern the effect of an appellate decision on subsequent proceedings in the same case. See
Simpson v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 564 So. 2d 1374, 1376 (Miss. 1990) (addressing
whether Simpson I was the “law of the case” in Simpson II, or whether exceptions to that
doctrine applied), abrogated on other grounds by Upchurch Plumbing Inc. v. Greenwood
Utils. Comm’n, 964 So. 2d 1100 (Miss. 2007); Miss. Coll. v. May, 241 Miss. 359, 366, 128
So. 2d 557, 558 (1961) (“Appellants seek on this appeal to reopen the same issues which the
Court has already decided in the first appeal. This we refuse to do for two reasons, because
the original decision was correct, and because it is the law of the case.”).
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Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, the county court’s ex parte order was subject to
revision at any time before entry of judgment “adjudicating all the claims and the rights and
liabilities of all the parties.” Based upon these authorities, I find no error in the circuit
court’s rejection of Adams’s “law-of-the-case” argument.
III. Summary Judgment
¶57. I further find no error in the circuit court’s decision to grant summary judgment in
MBA’s favor based upon its determination that Adams’s claims against MBA were time-
barred. The circuit court’s ruling on this issue was based upon its legal determination that
the statute of limitations had lapsed. This finding of law is reviewed de novo, and we will
reverse only “if the law has been applied or interpreted erroneously.” Young, 753 So. 2d at
461 (¶¶16, 18); see Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶12). I do not find that to be the case here.
When a plaintiff fails to serve process on a defendant within the 120-day service period
under Rule 4(h), “the statute of limitations automatically begins to run again when that period
expires.” Triple C Transp. Inc. v. Dickens, 870 So. 2d 1195, 1199-1200 (¶34) (Miss. 2004)
(quoting Holmes v. Coast Transit Auth., 815 So. 2d 1183, 1185 (¶7) (Miss. 2002)). “A
plaintiff who does not serve the defendant within the 120-day period must either re-file the
complaint before the statute of limitations ends or show good cause for failing to serve
process on the defendant within that 120-day period; otherwise, dismissal is proper.”
Holmes, 815 So. 2d at 1185 (¶7); see Estate of Puckett v. Clement, 238 So. 3d 1139, 1147
(¶22) (Miss. 2018); Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 166 (¶13); Dickens, 870 So. 2d at 1200 (¶34).
¶58. In this case, when Adams filed his complaint on May 1, 2017, only three days
25
remained on the governing statute of limitations. At this point the limitations period was
tolled for 120 days and resumed running on August 30, 2017, with three days remaining.
Because Adams failed to re-file his complaint or show good cause for an extension of time
to serve MBA, the statute of limitations expired on September 1, 2017, ten days before the
county court entered its order granting an extension on September 11, 2017, and seventy-
seven days before Adams effectuated service on MBA on November 17, 2017. Because the
statute of limitations period had expired at the time the county court’s order was set aside,
Adams’s claims against MBA are time-barred, and the circuit court properly granted
summary judgment to MBA. See Buckner, 61 So. 3d at 171 (¶32); Heard, 937 So. 2d at 944
(¶23); Booth v. Williams, 200 So. 3d 1053, 1064 (¶38) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016).
¶59. In sum, based upon the record before us, controlling precedent, and our deferential
standard of review, I find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in finding that
Adams failed to meet his burden of establishing good cause. I further find that the circuit
court did not err in granting summary judgment in MBA’s favor based upon its determination
that Adams’s claims against MBA were time-barred. Because the majority reaches a
different conclusion, I respectfully dissent.
J. WILSON, P.J., AND C. WILSON, J., JOIN THIS OPINION.
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