Murdock v. Slater

ANDREE LAYTON Roaf, Justice.

This case presents an issue of first impression in Arkansas — whether a defendant who defaults in municipal court has a right to a direct de novo appeal to circuit court. Charles E. Slater, Jr., obtained a default judgment against Claude Murdock in the small-claims division of municipal court. Murdock timely filed for a de novo appeal to circuit court, where he also filed a belated answer and counterclaim. The circuit court dismissed Murdock’s appeal, finding that the failure to timely respond or appear in municipal court constituted a consent or confession of the…