—Opening Judgment; Costs

(a) The judicial authority may, upon motion, and after such notice by mail, or otherwise as it may order, open any judgment rendered under this procedure for lack of actual notice to a party, or, within four months from the date thereof, for any other cause that the judicial authority may deem sufficient, and may stay and supersede execution; except that the judicial authority may, for the rea- sons indicated above, open any judgment ren- dered by default at any time within four months succeeding the date upon which an execution was levied. The judicial authority may also order the repayment of any sum collected under such judg- ment and may render judgment and issue execu- tion therefor. Costs in an amount fixed by the judicial authority and not exceeding $100 may be awarded, in the discretion of the judicial authority, for or against either party to a motion to open the judgment, and judgment may be rendered and execution may be issued therefor; and any action by the judicial authority may be conditioned upon the payment of such costs or the performance of any proper condition. (b) When a judgment has been rendered after a contested hearing on the merits, a motion to open shall be scheduled for hearing only upon order of the judicial authority. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 584.) (Amended June 26, 2000, to take effect Jan. 1, 2001; amended June 21, 2010, to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.)