Dodson Parker attorneys Donald Capparella and Jacob A. Vanzin secured on appeal a $750,000.00 judgment for their client, an injured plaintiff whose vehicle was struck by an 18-wheeler. The Trial Court granted a default judgment to the Plaintiff when the Defendant repeatedly failed to respond to the Complaint and other pleadings served upon the company’s registered agent. The Defendant trucking company filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. The Trial Court denied that motion and the Defendant appealed, claiming that even though their registered agent received the documents, the company was not aware of the lawsuit. Jacob A. Vanzin authored the brief on appeal and Donald Capparella delivered the oral argument. The Court of Appeals affirmed the Trial Court’s ruling.
Click here to watch the video of oral arguments.
Click here to read the full opinion issued by the Court of Appeals.
Michael Bressman serves as Professor of the Practice of Law at Vanderbilt Law School where he has taught a variety of courses over the last 15 years. This year, Professor Bressman received the Hall-Hartman Award honoring excellent teaching for one of the first-year sections of Contracts. He also teaches Intellectual Property and the Arts Clinic, and directs the Law School’s clerkship program.
