473.5. (a) When service of a summons has not resulted in actual notice to a party in time to defend the action and a default or default judgment has been entered against him or her in the action, he or she may serve and file a notice of motion to set aside the default or default judgment and for leave to defend the action. The notice of motion shall be served and filed within a reasonable time, but in no event exceeding the earlier of: (i) two years after entry of a default judgment against him or her; or (ii) 180 days after service on him or her of a written notice that the default or default judgment has been entered.
(b) A notice of motion to set aside a default or default judgment and for leave to defend the action shall designate as the time for making the motion a date prescribed by subdivision (b) of Section 1005, and it shall be accompanied by an affidavit showing under oath that the party's lack of actual notice in time to defend the action was not caused by his or her avoidance of service or inexcusable neglect. The party shall serve and file with the notice a copy of the answer, motion, or other pleading proposed to be filed in the action.
(c) Upon a finding by the court that the motion was made within the period permitted by subdivision (a) and that his or her lack of actual notice in time to defend the action was not caused by his or her avoidance of service or inexcusable neglect, it may set aside the default or default judgment on whatever terms as may be just and allow the party to defend the action.
474. When the plaintiff is ignorant of the name of a defendant, he must state that fact in the complaint, or the affidavit if the action is commenced by affidavit, and such defendant may be designated in any pleading or proceeding by any name, and when his true name is discovered, the pleading or proceeding must be amended accordingly; provided, that no default or default judgment shall be entered against a defendant so designated, unless it appears that the copy of the summons or other process, or, if there be no summons or process, the copy of the first pleading or notice served upon such defendant bore on the face thereof a notice stating in substance: "To the person served: You are hereby served in the within action (or proceedings) as (or on behalf of) the person sued under the fictitious name of (designating it)." The certificate or affidavit of service must state the fictitious name under which such defendant was served and the fact that notice of identity was given by endorsement upon the document served as required by this section. The foregoing requirements for entry of a default or default judgment shall be applicable only as to fictitious names designated pursuant to this section and not in the event the plaintiff has sued the defendant by an erroneous name and shall not be applicable to entry of a default or default judgment based upon service, in the manner otherwise provided by law, of an amended pleading, process or notice designating defendant by his true name.
475. The court must, in every stage of an action, disregard any error, improper ruling, instruction, or defect, in the pleadings or proceedings which, in the opinion of said court, does not affect the substantial rights of the parties. No judgment, decision, or decree shall be reversed or affected by reason of any error, ruling, instruction, or defect, unless it shall appear from the record that such error, ruling, instruction, or defect was prejudicial, and also that by reason of such error, ruling, instruction, or defect, the said party complaining or appealing sustained and suffered substantial injury, and that a different result would have been probable if such error, ruling, instruction, or defect had not occurred or existed. There shall be no presumption that error is prejudicial, or that injury was done if error is shown.
TITLE 6.5. ATTACHMENT
CHAPTER 1
WORDS AND PHRASES DEFINED
481.010. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this title.
481.020. "Account debtor" means "account debtor" as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
481.030. "Account receivable" means "account" as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
481.040. "Chattel paper" means "chattel paper" as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
481.055. "Costs" means costs and disbursements, including, but not limited to, statutory fees, charges, commissions, and expenses.
481.060. "Complaint" includes a cross-complaint.
481.070. "Defendant" includes a cross-defendant.
481.080. "Deposit account" means "deposit account" as defined in paragraph (29) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
481.090. "Document of title" means "document" as defined in paragraph (30) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. A document of title is negotiable if it is negotiable within the meaning of Section 7104 of the Commercial Code.
481.100. "Equipment" means tangible personal property in the possession of the defendant and used or bought for use primarily in the defendant's trade, business, or profession if it is not included in the definitions of inventory or farm products.
481.110. "Farm products" means crops or livestock or supplies used or produced in farming operations or products of crops or livestock in their unmanufactured states (such as ginned cotton, wool clip, maple syrup, milk, and eggs), while in the possession of a defendant engaged in raising, fattening, grazing, or other farming operations. If tangible personal property is a farm product, it is neither equipment nor inventory.
481.113. "Financial institution" means a state or national bank, state or federal savings and loan association or credit union, or like organization, and includes a corporation engaged in a safe deposit business.
481.115. "General intangibles" means "general intangibles," as defined in paragraph (42) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code, consisting of rights to payment.
481.117. "Instrument" means "instrument" as defined in paragraph (47) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
481.120. "Inventory" means tangible personal property in the possession of a defendant that (a) is held by the defendant for sale or lease or to be furnished under contracts of service or (b) is raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in his trade, business, or profession. Inventory of a person is not to be classified as his equipment.
481.140. "Levying officer" means the sheriff or marshal who is directed to execute a writ or order issued under this title.
481.170. "Person" includes a natural person, a corporation, a partnership or other unincorporated association, a limited liability company, and a public entity.
481.175. "Personal property" includes both tangible and intangible personal property.
481.180. "Plaintiff" means a person who files a complaint or cross-complaint.
481.190. A claim has "probable validity" where it is more likely than not that the plaintiff will obtain a judgment against the defendant on that claim.
481.195. "Property" includes real and personal property and any interest therein.
481.200. "Public entity" includes the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, a city, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.
481.203. "Real property" includes any right in real property, including,