Peralta v. Heights Medical Center

Heights Medical Center (plaintiff) sued Peralta (defendant) to collect a debt he had personally guaranteed for an employee's medical care, but service, though personal, was not timely, and Peralta neither appeared nor answered; a default judgment was entered, and Peralta's real property was sold at auction to satisfy it. Peralta sought to set aside the judgment and sale in Texas state court, but the courts below denied relief, reasoning he could show no harm because he could not demonstrate a meritorious defense to the underlying debt. Peralta appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on due process grounds.