Case Name: Valerie HOWARD, et al., Appellants, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, et al., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1991-11-26
Citations: 589 So. 2d 1018
Docket Number: No. 90-973
Parties: Valerie HOWARD, et al., Appellants, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, et al., Appellees.
Judges: Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and COPE, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 589
Pages: 1018–1019

Head Matter:
Valerie HOWARD, et al., Appellants, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, et al., Appellees.
No. 90-973.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Nov. 26, 1991.
Lenore Syzyn, Miami, for appellants.
Robin Greene, Shutts & Bowen and Gail Allen and Alan I. Mishael, Miami, for appel-lees.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and COPE, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We reverse the order denying the vacation of a default judgment entered in a child dependency case. There is record evidence appellants did not receive notice of the calendar call which they failed to attend; thus excusable neglect was demonstrated. See Dubois v. Fried, 378 So.2d 1350 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980). Moreover, the asserted defense that the corporal punish ment appellants administered did not amount to abuse was a meritorious defense for purposes of setting aside a default. See In Interest of D.S., 492 So.2d 797 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986).
Reversed and remanded.