Opinion
No. 79-136
Decided October 24, 1979
Judgments — Default — Grounds for Denial Where defendant, who was appealing pro se separate convictions for criminal trespass and criminal mischief, had been out of the country when notice of arraignment on both appeals was sent to him and consequently failed to appear and was defaulted, he was not negligent in not either having his mail forwarded or in notifying the court of his new location since he was only away for two weeks and his failure to appear was due to accident and misfortune.
Thomas D. Rath, attorney general (Steven J. McAuliffe, assistant attorney general, orally), for the State.
Shaines, Madrigan McEachern, of Portsmouth (Gregory D. Robbins orally), for the defendant.
Defendant appealed two convictions in the Hampton District Court to the Superior Court for Rockingham County; one on a charge of criminal trespass on August 13, 1976, and the other on a charge of criminal mischief on or about December 8, 1976. On January 11, 1979, the superior court mailed defendant a notice of arraignment on both appeals to be held on January 23, 1979. The defendant, who was not represented by counsel, failed to appear and was defaulted. By motion dated January 24, 1979, he asked that the default be stricken because he had been out of the country on vacation and had not returned until January 23, 1979, at noon. The State opposed the motion on the ground that he had not alleged "accident, mistake or misfortune" and because he was at fault for not providing the court with his most recent address. The motion was denied on February 23, 1979, and defendant moved for a rehearing which was denied. Defendant's exception was transferred by Mullavey, J.
At oral argument, it appeared that there was no real dispute as to the facts and consequently no issue of credibility was involved in the decision below. We are in as good a position, therefore, to decide the issue as the superior court. We find that the defendant's failure to appear was due to accident and misfortune and not due to defendant's neglect. RSA 599:1-b. The defendant had filed his appeal in August 1976. So far as appears, he had heard nothing from the court before he left on a two-week vacation. Considering the short period of his absence, we do not find defendant negligent for not either having his mail forwarded or notifying the court of his new location.
Default stricken; remanded.
BOIS, J., did not sit.