Wife LEFT SPEECHLESS as Husband Shows Up With Counsel
Just when she thought the divorce was almost over, everything EXPLODED! Dorothy Blankenship arrived in court expecting a default judgment against her husband, Donald. But then, a lawyer he just hired swoops in, filing a last-minute motion to throw out the default! Dorothy unleashes a torrent of accusations: Did Donald secretly pocket ALL the equity from their home refinance? Is he hiding valuable classic cars, claiming a vintage Corvette is worth pennies? She says he left her with a mountain of his garbage, a damaged house after a botched insurance claim, and ALL the bills while he's paid NOTHING! His lawyer claims they were "working together" and he even "filed" an answer. Who is telling the truth? With a long-term marriage and the husband claiming disability, the stakes for the marital estate are sky-high. Will the default be overturned? And will Dorothy's shocking claims of financial misconduct and hidden assets be proven? You decide who you believe! Don't miss this courtroom drama!
Litigants List:
Dorothy Blankenship: Plaintiff (Wife) Donald Blankenship: Defendant (Husband) Wendy Devos: Attorney for Defendant Donald Blankenship
Legal Terms Used & Defined:
Defendant: The party against whom a lawsuit is filed (Donald Blankenship). Plaintiff: The party who initiates a lawsuit (Dorothy Blankenship). Retained: Hired (as in, an attorney being hired by a client). Motion to Set Aside Default: A formal request to the court to cancel a default judgment or a default that has been entered against a party who failed to respond to a lawsuit in time. Default / Default Judgment: A binding judgment in favor of either party based on some failure to take action by the other party. Most often, it is a judgment in favor of a plaintiff when the defendant has not responded to a summons or has failed to appear before a court of law. Proposed Judgment of Divorce: A draft of the final divorce decree, outlining the terms of the divorce (property division, etc.), submitted to the court for approval. Court Rule 3.210 b 4 a: A specific procedural rule (likely Michigan Court Rule) dictating requirements for serving a proposed judgment. Appearance (Legal): Formally notifying the court and other parties that an attorney is representing a client in a case. Answer (to a Complaint/Petition): A defendant's written response to the allegations made by the plaintiff in a lawsuit. Good Cause: A legally sufficient reason for a court to take a certain action, such as setting aside a default. Marital Estate: All property and assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage. Equitable (Distribution): Fair, not necessarily equal, division of marital property in a divorce.
Legal Motions Filed Before the Court:
Motion for Entry of Default Judgment (by Plaintiff, implied): This was the purpose of the hearing. Motion to Set Aside the Default (by Defendant): Filed or on its way to being filed by Mr. Blankenship's attorney.
