Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co. v. Dozier

Upon consideration of this interlocutory appeal by the defendant, Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co., from a final judgment of default entered after the circuit court denied the defendant’s motion to set aside a default for failure to timely file a pleading or paper in response to the plaintiff-appel-lees’ complaint, we find there to be reversible error.

The policy of the courts of Florida in setting aside defaults in order to permit a trial on the merits is one of liberality. North Shore Hospital, Inc. v. Barber, Fla.1962, 143 So.2d 849. Therefore, the order denying the defendant’s motion to set…