EverBank v. Scurry

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

EverBank, Respondent,

v.

Lenora Scurry, Patrick Scurry, and the South Carolina
Department of Revenue, Defendants,

Of whom Lenora Scurry and Patrick Scurry are the
Appellants.

Appellate Case No. 2013-002181

Appeal From Newberry County
Joseph W. Hudgens, Special Referee

Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-397
Submitted July 1, 2015 – Filed August 12, 2015

AFFIRMED

Andrew Sims Radeker, of Harrison & Radeker, P.A., of
Columbia, for Appellants.

Sean Matthew Foerster, of Rogers Townsend & Thomas,
P.C., of Columbia, for Respondent.
PER CURIAM: Lenora and Patrick Scurry (collectively, Appellants) appeal the
special referee's order denying their motion to vacate the foreclosure judgment and
sale pursuant to Rule 60(b), SCRCP. Appellants argue the referee (1) abused its
discretion in denying the motion under Rule 60(b), (2) ignored the fact the
judgment was void under Rule 54(c), SCRCP, and (3) ignored the fact Appellants
had a meritorious defense to EverBank's foreclosure action.1 We affirm pursuant
to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities:

Standard of Review: Delta Apparel, Inc. v. Farina, 406 S.C. 257, 265, 750 S.E.2d
615, 619 (Ct. App. 2013) ("The decision whether to set aside an entry of default or
a default judgment lies solely within the sound discretion of the trial [court]."
(internal quotation marks omitted)); id. ("The trial court's decision will not be
disturbed on appeal absent a clear showing of an abuse of that discretion." (internal
quotation marks omitted)); id. ("An abuse of discretion in setting aside a default
judgment occurs when the [trial court] issuing the order was controlled by some
error of law or when the order, based upon factual, as distinguished from legal
conclusions, is without evidentiary support." (alteration by court) (internal
quotation marks omitted)).

Regarding Rule 60(b)(4): Rule 60(b)(4) (providing "the court may relieve a party
or his legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding [if] . . . the
judgment is void"); Ware v. Ware, 404 S.C. 1, 11, 743 S.E.2d 817, 822 (2013)
("The definition of void under the rule only encompasses judgments from courts
which failed to provide proper due process, or judgments from courts which lacked
subject matter jurisdiction or personal jurisdiction." (internal quotation marks
omitted)); Universal Benefits, Inc. v. McKinney, 349 S.C. 179, 183, 561 S.E.2d
659, 661 (Ct. App. 2002) ("The requirements of due process not only include
notice, but also include an opportunity to be heard in a meaningful way, and
judicial review."); BB&T v. Taylor, 369 S.C. 548, 551, 633 S.E.2d 501, 503 (2006)
("A court generally obtains personal jurisdiction by the service of a summons.");
Wachovia Bank, N.A. v. Player, 341 S.C. 424, 427, 535 S.E.2d 128, 129 (2000)
(explaining a master-in-equity has subject matter jurisdiction over a properly
referred foreclosure action); S.C. Code Ann. § 14-11-60 (Supp. 2014) ("[T]he
presiding circuit court judge, upon agreement of the parties, may appoint a special
referee in any case who as to the case has all the powers of a master-in-equity.");
Universal Benefits, Inc., 349 S.C. at 183, 561 S.E.2d at 661 ("A judgment is not

1
We address Issues 1 and 2 together.
rendered void by irregularities which do not involve jurisdiction."); id. at 184, 561
S.E.2d at 662 ("There is a difference between a want of jurisdiction, in which case
the court has no power to adjudicate, and a mistake in the exercise of undoubted
jurisdiction, in which case the court's action is not void, but is subject to direct
attack on appeal."); Delta Apparel, Inc., 406 S.C. at 265, 750 S.E.2d at 619
(explaining "[a]n abuse of discretion in setting aside a default judgment occurs
when the [trial court] issuing the order was controlled by some error of law"
(second alteration by court) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

Regarding Rule 60(b)(1): Rule 60(b)(1) (providing "the court may relieve a party
or his legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding
for . . . mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect"); Sundown Operating
Co. v. Intedge Indus., Inc., 383 S.C. 601, 608, 681 S.E.2d 885, 888 (2009)
(explaining the standard for granting relief from a default judgment under Rule
60(b) "requires a more particularized showing of mistake," which "underscore[s]
the clear intent to make it more difficult for a party to avoid a default once the
court has entered a judgment"); Williams v. Watkins, 384 S.C. 319, 324, 681
S.E.2d 914, 917 (Ct. App. 2009) (explaining "[i]n order to gain relief under Rule
60(b)(1), SCRCP, a party must first show a good faith mistake of fact has been
made" (emphasis added)); Rouvet v. Rouvet, 388 S.C. 301, 310, 696 S.E.2d 204,
208 (Ct. App. 2010) ("[L]ack of familiarity with legal proceedings is not an
acceptable excuse and the court will hold a layman to the same standard as an
attorney.").

Regarding Rule 60(b)(3): Rule 60(b)(3) (providing "the court may relieve a party
or his legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding
for . . . fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party"
(emphasis added)); Sundown Operating Co., 383 S.C. at 608, 681 S.E.2d at 888
(explaining the standard for granting relief from a default judgment under Rule
60(b) "requires a more particularized showing of . . . fraud, misrepresentation, or
other misconduct of an adverse party," which "underscore[s] the clear intent to
make it more difficult for a party to avoid a default once the court has entered a
judgment" (internal quotation marks omitted)); Raby Constr., L.L.P. v. Orr, 358
S.C. 10, 19, 594 S.E.2d 478, 483 (2004) ("[I]n order to secure equitable relief on
the basis of fraud, the fraud must be extrinsic." (internal quotation marks omitted));
Mr. G v. Mrs. G, 320 S.C. 305, 308, 465 S.E.2d 101, 103 (Ct. App. 1995)
("[F]raud is intrinsic and not a valid ground for setting aside a judgment when [a]
party has been given notice of the action and has had an opportunity to present his
case and to protect himself from any mistake or fraud of his adversary but has
unreasonably neglected to do so." (alterations by court) (internal quotation marks
omitted)); Sessions v. Withers, 327 S.C. 409, 414, 488 S.E.2d 888, 891 (Ct. App.
1997) (explaining "statements of fact appearing only in argument of counsel [are
not] considered" evidence); Froneberger v. Smith, 406 S.C. 37, 47, 748 S.E.2d
625, 630 (Ct. App. 2013) ("Apparent authority to do an act is created as to a third
person by written or spoken words or any other conduct of the principal which,
reasonably interpreted, causes the third person to believe the principal consents to
have the act done on his behalf by the person purporting to act for him." (internal
quotation marks omitted)); id. (explaining an element of apparent agency is "that
the purported principal consciously or impliedly represented another to be his
agent"); id. (stating "an agency may not be established solely by the declarations
and conduct of an alleged agent").

As to Issue 3: Futch v. McAllister Towing of Georgetown, Inc., 335 S.C. 598, 613,
518 S.E.2d 591, 598 (1999) (noting an appellate court need not address an
appellant's remaining issues when its determination of a prior issue is dispositive).

AFFIRMED.2

SHORT, LOCKEMY, and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.

2
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.