Dennis Crocker and One Stop Muffler Missouri Cases

Dennis Crocker and One Stop Muffler appealed the circuit court's denial of their motions to set aside a default judgment entered in favor of Tabatha Moore. The Appellants argued the circuit court lacked personal jurisdiction due to improper service and that Moore lacked standing because a necessary party was not joined. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's decision, holding that Appellants waived their personal jurisdiction and necessary party arguments by failing to raise them at the earliest opportunity.

Tabatha Moore filed suit against Dennis Crocker and One Stop Muffler for breach of contract and conversion/replevin, obtaining a default judgment when Appellants failed to appear. Appellants filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, but the circuit court never ruled on it. Instead, Appellants directly appealed the default judgment. The appellate court dismissed the appeal, holding that a direct appeal from a default judgment is only cognizable when it challenges the circuit court's subject matter jurisdiction, which Appellants' claims did not.