PAMELA ROSE SIOJO
v.
OVERSEAS MANPOWER SOLUTIONS
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The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a default judgment against the defendant, finding no factual or legal basis for its entry and remanding for trial, while cautioning both counsel regarding their professional responsibilities.
A default judgment must be reversed when the record contains no factual evidence or legal basis supporting its entry.
[1] A default judgment must be reversed when the record contains no factual evidence or legal basis supporting its entry, and the appellate court may remand with instructions…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePamela Rose Siojo appealed from a circuit court's entry of default and final default judgment against her, as well as the court's denial of her motion…
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GERBER, J.
The defendant appeals from the circuit court’s entry of default and final default judgment against her and the circuit court’s order denying her motion for reconsideration.
We reverse because the record contains no factual evidence or legal basis to have supported the circuit court’s entry of default and final default judgment against the defendant. We conclude the defendant’s counsel was responsible for the improper entry of the default and final default judgment against the defendant, and the plaintiff’s counsel was responsible for the improper denial of the defendant’s motion for reconsideration.
Based on the foregoing, we remand for the circuit court to vacate the default and final default judgment entered against the defendant. The circuit court shall enter an order setting the case for trial, which order shall not be vacated unless the parties resolve the case by settlement or for other good cause. We trust that our discussion with both counsel during oral argument regarding their professional responsibilities will result in “the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination” of this action going forward. Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.010; see also R. Regulating Fla. Bar Preamble: A Lawyer’s Responsibilities (“A lawyer, as a member of the legal profession, is a representative of clients, an officer of the legal system, and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice.”); Oath of Admission to the Fla. Bar (“To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications.”). No further comment or action on our part is necessary at this time.
Reversed and remanded with instructions.
MAY and ARTAU, JJ., concur.
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Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
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