Case Name: MORRIS NORTH AMERICAN, INC., Appellant, v. Richard B. KING and Diane J. King, his wife, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1983-05-04
Citations: 430 So. 2d 592
Docket Number: No. 81-1701
Parties: MORRIS NORTH AMERICAN, INC., Appellant, v. Richard B. KING and Diane J. King, his wife, Appellees.
Judges: ANSTEAD, J., concurs specially with opinion.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 430
Pages: 592–594

Head Matter:
MORRIS NORTH AMERICAN, INC., Appellant, v. Richard B. KING and Diane J. King, his wife, Appellees.
No. 81-1701.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
May 4, 1983.
Carey N. Bos of Rogers & Dowling, P.A., Orlando, for appellant.
Thomas Thatcher of Smith, O’Haire, Quinn & Garris, Vero Beach, for appellees.

Opinion:
HURLEY, Judge.
We are asked to decide whether a satisfaction of judgment bars a. later effort to alter or amend the final judgment. We answer in the affirmative and hold that, unless vacated, a satisfaction bars any subsequent effort to change the final judgment.
After an initial judgment in favor of plaintiff/appellee, the defendant, Morris North American, paid the amount of the judgment and received a written satisfaction from plaintiffs, Mr. and Mrs. King. Subsequently, the plaintiffs moved for relief from the judgment pursuant to Rule 1.540, Fla.R.Civ.P. They contended that the final judgment contained a clerical error which resulted in an insufficient award of prejudgment interest. The defendant responded that the judgment had been satisfied which estopped the plaintiffs from seeking further relief. The trial court granted the motion, amended the final judgment, and awarded an additional $4,746.70. This appeal ensued.
We begin our analysis by noting the fundamental principle that "a satisfaction of judgment is the last act and end of the proceeding." 47 Am.Jur.2d, Judgments § 979 at 80. See Hendry v. Benlisa, 37 Fla. 609, 20 So. 800 (1896); Weaver v. Stone, 212 So.2d 80 (Fla. 4th DCA 1968); Walker v. U-Haul Co., 300 So.2d 289 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974). See also Neustein v. Insurance Placement Facility, 271 Pa.Super. 126, 412 A.2d 608 (1979). A satisfaction signifies that the litigation is over, the dispute is settled, the account is paid. Doubtless, it was this principle which led the court in Dock & Marine Construction Corp. v. Parrino, 211 So.2d 57 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968), to vacate a cost award which had been entered after the entry of a satisfaction of judg ment. In that case the final judgment awarded the plaintiff $7,500 in damages plus costs. After receiving $7,500 and giving a valid satisfaction, the plaintiff moved to tax costs against the defendant. The trial court granted the motion and entered an order taxing costs in the amount of $119.92. The Third District reversed, finding that the satisfaction precluded such an order. We recognizé that a motion to tax costs differs from a motion to remedy a clerical error. Nevertheless, the principle is the same; a facially valid satisfaction is a complete bar to any effort to alter or amend the final judgment.
This is not to say, however, that a satisfaction is immune from attack. If shown to be invalid, a satisfaction may be set aside. Weaver v. Stone, supra. See generally Oregon ex rel. Hansen v. McKay, 31 Or.App. 631, 571 P.2d 166 (1977); Romero v. De Conclni, McDonald & Brammer, P.C., 26 Ariz.App. 235, 547 P.2d 506 (1976); Neustein v. Insurance Placement Facility, supra. The appropriate method to attack the validity of a satisfaction is by motion pursuant to Rule 1.540(b), Fla.R.Civ.P., in the original action or by an independent action brought specifically for that purpose in the court which entered the judgment. Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Simmons, 421 So.2d 698 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982).
Inasmuch as the plaintiffs/appellees failed to contest the validity of the satisfaction, we reverse the order amending the final judgment. This action is without prejudice to further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED.
ANSTEAD, J., concurs specially with opinion.
BERANEK, J., dissents with opinion.