Florida District Courts of Appeal, 2009

Martowski v. Department of Revenue Ex Rel. Wyatt

Martowski v. Department of Revenue Ex Rel. Wyatt
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided June 17, 2009 · Kelly, Fulmer, Larose
10 So. 3d 714; 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 7767; 2009 WL 1676038 (Southern Reporter, Third Series)

Martowski v. Department of Revenue Ex Rel. Wyatt

Opinion

KELLY, Judge.

Michael Martowski appeals from the default judgment which legally establishes him as the father of K.W. He argues that he did not receive notice of trial and requests that the default be vacated so that the matter can proceed on the merits. The Department of Revenue (DOR) does not agree that Martowski lacked sufficient notice of the proceedings. However, DOR concedes and we agree, that the case should be remanded for an evidentiary hearing on the merits because there is no evidence to support the trial court’s findings in the final judgment. See Locklear v. Sampson, 478 So.2d 1113 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985) (holding that a judgment establishing paternity must not be entered solely upon the basis of unadmitted and unproven allegations of paternity, but must be based upon competent, substantial evidence). Accordingly, we reverse and remand for an evidentiary hearing.

Reversed and remanded.

FULMER and LaROSE, JJ„ Concur.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.