01/20/2020
Defendant appealed decision of the trial judge denying a motion to vacate a default judgment sustaining three traffic violations. Defendant’s hearing was scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., but Defendant arrived at 9:00 a.m. because he mistakenly believed that court hearings began at that time since that is when court begins in his home state. Defendant argued that the trial judge abused his discretion because Defendant was prejudiced by not being allowed to argue his motion to vacate. The Appeals Panel held that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion because Defendant was placed on notice as to the scheduled time of the hearing. Accordingly, the Appeals Panel affirmed the decision of the trial judge.
State of Rhode Island v. Julian Hancox, No. M19-0016 (January 20, 2020).pdf