117 STAT. 2842
PUBLIC LAW 108–189—DEC. 19, 2003
‘‘(f) SECTION 202 PROTECTION.—If a servicemember who is a defendant in an action covered by this section receives actual notice of the action, the servicemember may request a stay of proceeding under section 202. ‘‘(g) VACATION OR SETTING ASIDE OF DEFAULT JUDGMENTS.— ‘‘(1) AUTHORITY FOR COURT TO VACATE OR SET ASIDE JUDGMENT.—If a default judgment is entered in an action covered by this section against a servicemember during the servicemember’s period of military service (or within 60 days after termination of or release from such military service), the court entering the judgment shall, upon application by or on behalf of the servicemember, reopen the judgment for the purpose of allowing the servicemember to defend the action if it appears that— ‘‘(A) the servicemember was materially affected by reason of that military service in making a defense to the action; and ‘‘(B) the servicemember has a meritorious or legal defense to the action or some part of it. ‘‘(2) TIME FOR FILING APPLICATION.—An application under this subsection must be filed not later than 90 days after the date of the termination of or release from military service. ‘‘(h) PROTECTION OF BONA FIDE PURCHASER.—If a court vacates, sets aside, or reverses a default judgment against a servicemember and the vacating, setting aside, or reversing is because of a provision of this Act, that action shall not impair a right or title acquired by a bona fide purchaser for value under the default judgment.
Deadline.
50 USC app. 522.
‘‘SEC. 202. STAY OF PROCEEDINGS WHEN SERVICEMEMBER HAS NOTICE.
‘‘(a) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION.—This section applies to any civil action or proceeding in which the defendant at the time of filing an application under this section— ‘‘(1) is in military service or is within 90 days after termination of or release from military service; and ‘‘(2) has received notice of the action or proceeding. ‘‘(b) STAY OF PROCEEDINGS.— ‘‘(1) AUTHORITY FOR STAY.—At any stage before final judgment in a civil action or proceeding in which a servicemember described in subsection (a) is a party, the court may on its own motion and shall, upon application by the servicemember, stay the action for a period of not less than 90 days, if the conditions in paragraph (2) are met. ‘‘(2) CONDITIONS FOR STAY.—An application for a stay under paragraph (1) shall include the following: ‘‘(A) A letter or other communication setting forth facts stating the manner in which current military duty requirements materially affect the servicemember’s ability to appear and stating a date when the servicemember will be available to appear. ‘‘(B) A letter or other communication from the servicemember’s commanding officer stating that the servicemember’s current military duty prevents appearance and that military leave is not authorized for the servicemember at the time of the letter. ‘‘(c) APPLICATION NOT A WAIVER OF DEFENSES.—An application for a stay under this section does not constitute an appearance
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