25-2001. District court; power to vacate or modify judgments or orders.

(1) The inherent power of a district court to vacate or modify its judgments or orders during term may also be exercised after the end of the term, upon the same grounds, upon a motion filed within six months after the entry of the judgment or order.

(2) The power of a district court under its equity jurisdiction to set aside a judgment or an order as an equitable remedy is not limited by this section.

(3) Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders, or other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the court by an order nunc pro tunc at any time on the court's initiative or on the motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the court orders. During the pendency of an appeal, such mistakes may be so corrected before the case is submitted for decision in the appellate court, and thereafter while the appeal is pending may be so corrected with leave of the appellate court.

(4) A district court may vacate or modify its own judgments or orders after the term at which such judgments or orders were made (a) for mistake, neglect, or omission of the clerk, or irregularity in obtaining a judgment or order; (b) for fraud practiced by the successful party in obtaining the judgment or order; (c) for newly discovered material evidence which could neither have been discovered with reasonable diligence before trial nor have been discovered with reasonable diligence in time to move for a new trial; (d) for erroneous proceedings against an infant or person of unsound mind if the condition of such defendant does not appear in the record of the proceedings; (e) for the death of one of the parties before the judgment in the action; (f) for unavoidable casualty or misfortune, preventing the party from prosecuting or defending; and (g) for taking judgments upon warrants of attorney for more than was due to the plaintiff when the defendant was not summoned or otherwise legally notified of the time and place of taking such judgment.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 602, p. 500; Laws 1899, c. 87, § 1, p. 342; R.S.1913, § 8207; C.S.1922, § 9160; C.S.1929, § 20-2001; R.S.1943, § 25-2001; Laws 1947, c. 84, § 2, p. 261; Laws 1997, LB 1, § 2; Laws 2000, LB 921, § 17.

Annotations

25-2002. District court judgment; proceedings to vacate or modify; summons; waiver of error.

The proceedings to vacate or modify the judgment or order on the grounds mentioned in subsection (4) of section 25-2001 shall be by complaint, setting forth the judgment or order, the grounds to vacate or modify it, and the defense to the action, if the party applying was defendant. On such complaint a summons shall issue and be served as in the commencement of an action. Summons shall not issue in any case in which there is upon the minutes of the court, or among the files of the case, a waiver of error by the party or the party's attorney, unless the court or a judge thereof endorses upon the complaint permission to issue such summons.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 603, p. 501; R.S.1913, § 8208; C.S.1922, § 9161; C.S.1929, § 20-2002; R.S.1943, § 25-2002; Laws 2000, LB 921, § 18; Laws 2002, LB 876, § 28.

Annotations

25-2003. Repealed. Laws 2000, LB 921, § 38.
25-2004. District court judgment; grounds for vacation or modification; determination.

The court may first try and decide upon the grounds to vacate or modify a judgment or order, before trying or deciding upon the validity of the defense or cause of action.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 605, p. 501; R.S.1913, § 8210; C.S.1922, § 9163; C.S.1929, § 20-2004; R.S.1943, § 25-2004.

Annotations

25-2005. District court judgment; vacation; existence of valid claim or defense a prerequisite; preservation of liens upon modification.

A judgment shall not be vacated on motion or complaint, until it is adjudged that there is a valid defense to the action in which the judgment is rendered, or, if the plaintiff seeks its vacation, that there is a valid cause of action; and when a judgment is modified, all liens and securities obtained under it shall be preserved to the modified judgment.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 606, p. 501; R.S.1913, § 8211; C.S.1922, § 9164; C.S.1929, § 20-2005; R.S.1943, § 25-2005; Laws 2002, LB 876, § 29.

Annotations

25-2006. District court judgment; proceedings to vacate or modify; injunction.

The party seeking to vacate or modify a judgment or order, may obtain an injunction suspending proceedings on the whole or part thereof, which injunction may be granted by the court, or any judge thereof, upon its being rendered probable, by affidavit or by exhibition of the record, that the party is entitled to have such judgment or order vacated or modified.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 607, p. 502; R.S.1913, § 8212; C.S.1922, § 9165; C.S.1929, § 20-2006; R.S.1943, § 25-2006.
25-2007. District court judgment; rendition before action regularly stood for trial; rights of defendant; no showing of valid defense required.

When the judgment was rendered before the action stood for trial, the suspension may be granted as provided in section 25-2006, although no valid defense to the action is shown; and the court shall make such orders concerning the executions to be issued on the judgment, as shall give to the defendant the same rights of delay he would have had if the judgment had been rendered at the proper time.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 608, p. 502; R.S.1913, § 8213; C.S.1922, § 9166; C.S.1929, § 20-2007; R.S.1943, § 25-2007.

Annotations

25-2008. District court judgment; proceedings to vacate or modify; statute of limitations.

Proceedings to vacate or modify a judgment or order, for the causes mentioned in subsection (4) of section 25-2001 must be commenced no later than two years after the entry of the judgment or order unless the party entitled thereto is an infant or person of unsound mind, and then no later than two years after removal of such disability.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 609, p. 502; Laws 1899, c. 88, § 1, p. 344; R.S.1913, § 8214; C.S.1922, § 9167; C.S.1929, § 20-2008; R.S.1943, § 25-2008; Laws 2000, LB 921, § 19.

Annotations

25-2009. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and county court judgments; laws applicable.

The provisions of Chapter 25 shall apply to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and county court, so far as the same may be applicable to the judgments or final orders of such courts. The parties shall be limited to the same time in which to commence proceedings; and in estimating time, the county court shall, for such purpose, be considered as holding, in each year, a regular term of court commencing on January 1.

Source:R.S.1867, Code § 610, p. 502; R.S.1913, § 8215; C.S.1922, § 9168; C.S.1929, § 20-2009; Laws 1941, c. 30, § 1, p. 139; C.S.Supp.,1941, § 20-2009; R.S.1943, § 25-2009; Laws 2006, LB 1115, § 17.

Annotations