Dutton-Lainson Co. v. McGee

George Rose Smith, Justice.

This is a products-liability action for wrongful death, in which service upon the appellant Dutton-Lainson Company (one of two defendants) was obtained in Nebraska under the long-arm statute. Ark. Stat. Ann., Title 27, Ch. 25 (Supp. 1975). This appeal is from an order finding Dutton-Lainson to be in default because (a) its first pleading, a motion for an additional 15 days in which to plead further, was not signed by a resident Arkansas attorney and (b) its next pleading, an answer, was filed too late.

We cannot agree with the trial court’s conclusion that the harsh…