A. If the defendant was personally served as provided in Section 35-9-2B NMSA 1978, or if he appears as provided in the civil summons, the magistrate shall proceed to hear and determine the action on its merits as in other civil actions.

B. If the defendant was not personally served as provided in Section 35-9-2B NMSA 1978, but his personal property was seized under the attachment and he does not appear as provided in the summons, the magistrate shall order the sheriff to notify the defendant by newspaper publication or by posting in at least three of the most public places in the county that his property has been attached and that, unless he appears before the magistrate at a time and place mentioned in the notice, not less than twenty days or more than ninety days from the date of the notice, judgment will be rendered against him and his property sold to pay the debt. If the defendant appears when notified as provided in this subsection, the magistrate shall proceed to hear and determine the action on its merits as in other civil actions. If the defendant fails to appear when notified as provided in this subsection, the magistrate shall enter a default judgment against him in the action.

History: 1953 Comp., § 36-11-3, enacted by Laws 1968, ch. 62, § 116.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — What constitutes "appearance" under Rule 55 (b)(2) of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, providing that if party against whom default judgment is sought has "appeared" in action, that party must be served with notice of application for judgment, 139 A.L.R. Fed. 603.