Rule 1.976 Relief in other cases

When a court makes a final decision in a case, that decision has to match what was actually asked for in the lawsuit. The judge can give any type of relief that fits with the claims made in the petition, as long as it relates to the issues that were actually raised in the case.

There's an important limit here for cases where the other side never showed up to defend themselves. If someone is in default (meaning they didn't respond or appear in court), the judge cannot award more than what was specifically asked for in the original petition. This protects people who don't participate in a case from being surprised by a bigger judgment than they expected.

In simple terms, this rule makes sure judgments stay fair and predictable. If you file a lawsuit and the other person ignores it, you can only get what you originally asked for, not more. This gives everyone a clear idea of what's at stake, even if one side chooses not to fight the case.