Estate of Anthony Vanleer v. Sara Harakas

A default judgment was entered against Sara and Andre Harakas, the Appellants herein, in a dispute over defects in the construction of a residence. At the time the default judgment was entered, Mr. and Mrs. Harakas had not answered the complaint. Mr. and Mrs. Harakas filed a pro se motion to set aside the default judgment, arguing that they did not receive the notice of the motion for default judgment, which the trial court denied after a hearing that included testimony from Mrs. Harakas. Mr. and Mrs. Harakas then retained an attorney who filed a motion to alter or amend the refusal to set aside the default judgment and a second motion to set aside the judgment taken by default. The trial court denied these motions. Because there was reasonable doubt as to whether the default judgment should have been set aside, we reverse the trial court's refusal to set aside.