Terms Used In Florida Statutes 76.31

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
If a default is entered for plaintiff and defendant has retaken the property on a forthcoming bond, final judgment shall be entered at the same time against defendant and the surety on the bond for the amount of the judgment against defendant if it is less than the value of the property as fixed by the officer, or for the value of the property so fixed if the value is less than the judgment against defendant. If defendant has retaken the property on a bond to pay the debt, the judgment shall also be entered against the surety for the amount of the judgment against defendant. When judgment is entered against defendant after trial, it shall be entered against the surety as above provided except that the value of the property retaken by defendant shall be found by the court or jury, as the case may be, and stated in the finding or verdict.