Case Name: GULF STREAM BOAT BUILDERS, INC., etc., et al., Appellants, v. SOUTH DADE BOAT, INC., a Florida corporation, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1991-08-13
Citations: 583 So. 2d 807
Docket Number: No. 90-1852
Parties: GULF STREAM BOAT BUILDERS, INC., etc., et al., Appellants, v. SOUTH DADE BOAT, INC., a Florida corporation, Appellee.
Judges: Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and FERGUSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 583
Pages: 807–808

Head Matter:
GULF STREAM BOAT BUILDERS, INC., etc., et al., Appellants, v. SOUTH DADE BOAT, INC., a Florida corporation, Appellee.
No. 90-1852.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Aug. 13, 1991.
Thomas J. McLaughlin, Miami, for appellants.
Cohen, Chase, Heckerling & Trautman, Miami, for appellee.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and FERGUSON, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We reverse the trial court's denial of a motion to set aside default. Plaintiff misled defendants into believing it was unnecessary to file any responsive pleadings because of ongoing settlement negotiations. Thus, it was unconscionable for plaintiff to take advantage of defendants' failure to file an answer by obtaining a default judgment without notice to defendants. American Republic Ins. Co. v. Westchester Gen. Hosp., 414 So.2d 1163 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982); Rubenstein v. Richard Fidlin Corp., 346 So.2d 89 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.