Case Name: LAUXMONT FARMS, INC., and Lauxmont Bloodstock, Inc., Appellants, v. Walter W. ZENTNER, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1987-10-29
Citations: 514 So. 2d 82
Docket Number: No. 87-3
Parties: LAUXMONT FARMS, INC., and Lauxmont Bloodstock, Inc., Appellants, v. Walter W. ZENTNER, Appellee.
Judges: UPCHURCH, C.J., and SHARP, J., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 514
Pages: 82–82

Head Matter:
LAUXMONT FARMS, INC., and Lauxmont Bloodstock, Inc., Appellants, v. Walter W. ZENTNER, Appellee.
No. 87-3.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Oct. 29, 1987.
Robert B. White, Jr., of White & May, Orlando, for appellants.
Bruce B. Blackwell of King & Blackwell, P.A., Orlando, for appellee.

Opinion:
DAUKSCH, Judge.
This is an appeal from a default judgment awarding unliquidated damages without trial. Although a default judgment can be entered to establish liability, a trial with proper notice is necessary to establish unliquidated damages. Bowman v. Kingsland Dev., Inc., 432 So.2d 660 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983); Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.440(c). The trial court's award of unliquidated compensatory damages by a default judgment was therefore error. See Buffington v. Torcise, 504 So.2d 490 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); Turner v. Allen, 389 So.2d 686 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980); B/G Amusements, Inc. v. Mystery Fun House, Inc., 381 So.2d 318 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980). We find no error in regard to appellant's other points on appeal.
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; REMANDED.
UPCHURCH, C.J., and SHARP, J., concur.