Absence of Counsel Without Proof of Notice Vitiates Judgment

Absence of Counsel Without Proof of Notice Vitiates Judgment: A party sought to annul a judicial decision based on the fact that the opposing party's lawyer, who was legally required to present the case at the hearing, was absent, and the court proceeded to rule without ensuring the absent lawyer had been properly notified of the hearing date, leading the higher court to overturn the judgment because the absence of a party's legally mandated representative without proof of proper notification constitutes a procedural violation that vitiates the decision.