Tam v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

OPINION

BARTEAU, Judge.

Matthew K. Tam appeals a civil judgment for money damages rendered against him and two co-defendants after a hearing at which he was not present. He raises two issues, but we address only the following dispositive question:

Whether the trial court properly entered judgment against the defendant in the defendant’s absence when the trial record provides no evidence that the defendant was notified of his trial date?

We reverse.

FACTS

On November 17,-1995, the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm) amended a civil lawsuit it had previously filed, and added…