period of time, in no case exceeding six months, after the court takes jurisdiction over the practice. However, in the case of a judgment, order, or other proceeding determining the ownership or right to possession of real or personal property, without extending the six-month period, when a notice in writing is personally served within the state both upon the party against whom the judgment, order, or other proceeding has been taken, and upon the attorney appointed pursuant to Section 6180.5 of the Business and Professions Code to act under the court’s direction, notifying the party and the appointed attorney that the order, judgment, or other proceeding was taken against him or her and that any rights the party has to apply for relief under the provisions of the section shall expire 90 days after service of notice, then application for relief must be made within 90 days after service of the notice upon the defaulting party or the attorney appointed to act under the court’s direction pursuant to Section 6180.5 of the Business and Professions Code, whichever service is later. No affidavit or declaration of merits shall be required of the moving party.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 589, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 1994.)
473.5. (a) When service of a summons has not resulted in actual notice to a party in time to defend the action and a default or default judgment has been entered against him or her in the action, he or she may serve and file a notice of motion to set aside the default or default judgment and for leave to defend the action. The notice of motion shall be served and filed within a reasonable time, but in no event exceeding the earlier of: (i) two years after entry of a default judgment against him or her; or (ii) 180 days after service on him or her of a written notice that the default or default judgment has been entered.
(b) A notice of motion to set aside a default or default judgment and for leave to defend the action shall designate as the time for making the motion a date prescribed by subdivision (b) of Section 1005, and it shall be accompanied by an affidavit showing under oath that the party’s lack of actual notice in time to defend the action was not caused by his or her avoidance of service or inexcusable neglect. The party shall serve and file with the notice a copy of the answer, motion, or other pleading proposed to be filed in the action.
(c) Upon a finding by the court that the motion was made within the period permitted by subdivision (a) and that his or her lack of actual notice in time to defend the action was not caused by his or her avoidance of service or inexcusable neglect, it may set aside the default or default judgment on whatever terms as may be just and allow the party to defend the action.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1491, Sec. 5.)
474. When the plaintiff is ignorant of the name of a defendant, he must state that fact in the complaint, or the affidavit if the action is commenced by affidavit, and such defendant may be designated in any pleading or proceeding by any name, and when his true name is discovered, the pleading or proceeding must be amended accordingly; provided, that no default or default judgment shall be entered against a defendant so designated, unless it appears that the copy of the summons or other process, or, if there be no summons or process, the copy of the first pleading or notice served upon such defendant bore on the face thereof a notice stating in substance: “To the person served: You are hereby served in the within action (or proceedings) as (or on behalf of) the person sued under the fictitious name of (designating it).” The certificate or affidavit of service must state the fictitious name under which such defendant was served and the fact that notice of identity was given by endorsement upon the document served as required by this section. The foregoing requirements for entry of a default or default judgment shall be applicable only as to fictitious names designated pursuant to this section and not in the event the plaintiff has sued the defendant by an erroneous name and shall not be applicable to entry of a default or default judgment based upon service, in the manner otherwise provided by law, of an amended pleading, process or notice designating defendant by his true name.
(Amended by Stats. 1955, Ch. 886.)
475. The court must, in every stage of an action, disregard any error, improper ruling, instruction, or defect, in the pleadings or proceedings which, in the opinion of said court, does not affect the substantial rights of the parties. No judgment, decision, or decree shall be reversed or affected by reason of any error, ruling, instruction, or defect, unless it shall appear from the record that such error, ruling, instruction, or defect was prejudicial, and also that by reason of such error, ruling, instruction, or defect, the said party complaining or appealing sustained and suffered substantial injury, and that a different result would have been probable if such error, ruling, instruction, or defect had not occurred or existed. There shall be no presumption that error is prejudicial, or that injury was done if error is shown.
(Amended by Stats. 1897, Ch. 47.)
TITLE 6.5. ATTACHMENT
CHAPTER 1.
Words and Phrases Defined
481.010. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this title.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1516.)
481.020. “Account debtor” means “account debtor” as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 11.5. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
481.030. “Account receivable” means “account” as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
481.040. “Chattel paper” means “chattel paper” as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 12.1. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
481.055. “Costs” means costs and disbursements, including, but not limited to, statutory fees, charges, commissions, and expenses.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1198, Sec. 5. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 70 of Ch. 1198.)
481.060. “Complaint” includes a cross-complaint.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1516.)
481.070. “Defendant” includes a cross-defendant.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1516.)
481.080. “Deposit account” means “deposit account” as defined in paragraph (29) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 12.2. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
481.090. “Document of title” means “document” as defined in paragraph (30) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. A document of title is negotiable if it is negotiable within the meaning of Section 7104 of the Commercial Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 12.3. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)
481.100. “Equipment” means tangible personal property in the possession of the defendant and used or bought for use primarily in the defendant’s trade, business, or profession if it is not included in the definitions of inventory or farm products.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1516.)
481.110. “Farm products” means crops or livestock or supplies used or produced in farming operations or products of crops or livestock in their unmanufactured states (such as ginned cotton, wool clip, maple syrup, milk, and eggs), while in the possession of a defendant engaged in raising, fattening, grazing, or other farming operations. If tangible personal property is a farm product, it is neither equipment nor inventory.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1198, Sec. 8. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 70 of Ch. 1198.)
481.113.