McLaughlin v. Fidelity Security Life Insurance

This case presents the issue whether a default judgment obtained without proper service of process must be vacated on the motion of a defendant who had personal knowledge of the action. Appellee Fidelity Security Life Insurance filed a complaint against appellant James McLaughlin seeking relief for McLaughlin’s alleged violations of a consent decree previously entered in the Superior Court. 1 Fidelity attempted to serve McLaughlin by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to McLaughlin’s counsel in the prior matter. After McLaughlin did not answer the complaint or otherwise appear to…