Some Lessons Are More Expensive Than Others

The Widget:

Court: First Circuit
Judge: Boudin
Subject: Judgments
Tone: Not buying it
Importance 3.2

Indianapolis Life Ins. Co. v. Herman et al., No 07-1797, is an interesting little First Circuit case. A defendant blew an answer deadline and judgment entered against her for more than a million dollars. She appeared, argued that the judgment should only apply to her in her capacity as a trustee, lost that argument, and appealed to the First Circuit.

Today the First Circuit affirmed, and stated at the conclusion of the opinion that “Justice be done though the heavens may fall (“Fiat justitia, ruat coelum”) is an admirable maxim, but in practice it is hedged by requirements that litigants make reasonable efforts to answer complaints, read documents served on them, obey court orders and seek corrections in a timely manner.”

In other words, be careful.