OPINION
Opinion by
Johnny and Gayle Atwood appeal from a default judgment rendered against them in favor of B & R Supply and Equipment Company, (B <& R). We reverse and remand.
This case arises from a contract dispute between the Atwoods and B & R. The Atwoods hired Moreno Roofing Company to repair hail damage to the roof of the Atwoods’ home. 2 B & R supplied materials for the repair work. After the completion of the work, B & R brought suit against the Atwoods, alleging that the At-woods had breached an agreement in which the Atwoods agreed to pay Moreno Roofing with checks requiring B & R’s signature as well as that of Moreno Roofing. According to B & R’s pleadings, the Atwoods issued checks that required only Moreno Roofing’s signature and, as a result, B & R was not paid for the materials used in the roofing repair. B & R filed an affidavit for a lien on the Atwoods’ proper *267 ty to secure payment of the money claimed by B & R.
The Atwoods did not file a response to B & R’s suit, and the trial court rendered a default judgment against them on April 5, 1999. The Atwoods now bring a restricted appeal to challenge the default judgment. See Tex.R.App.P. 30.
In their first point of error, the Atwoods argue that service was improper because, although B & R served its original petition, B & R failed to serve the amended petition, upon which the default judgment was based.
There are no presumptions in favor of valid issuance, service, and return of citation in the face of a direct attack on a default judgment.
Palomin v. Zarsky Lumber Co.,
In the case now before this Court, the record contains the sheriffs returns for B & R’s original petition, thus showing that the Atwoods were served with the original petition. However, the record shows no service of B & R’s second amended petition.
3
Having found that the Atwoods were served with the original petition, we must now determine if the second amended petition, upon which the default judgment was granted, seeks a more onerous judgment than prayed for in the original petition.
See Weaver,
In both its original petition and its second amended petition, B & R sought recovery of contract damages totaling $5,174.23, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, and “reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees” in an unspecified amount. The original petition further requested the foreclosure of the hen filed by B & R. The original petition is worded to comply with the requirements of a suit on a sworn account; however, it is not supported with an affidavit as is required for suits on sworn accounts. See Tex. R.Civ.P. 185.
The second amended petition is similar to the original petition; however, B & R specifies the amount of attorneys’ fees requested as $1,500 “to date,” $2,500 in the event of an appeal, $1,000 should a petition for review be filed with the Texas Supreme Court, and $1,500 if the supreme court grants the petition for review. The second amended petition is also supported by the affidavit of B & R’s attorney, stating that all the statements contained in the petition are within his personal knowledge and are true and correct. This verification converts the second amended petition from a simple suit alleging breach of contract to a *268 suit on a sworn account. See Tex.R.Civ.P. 185. This constitutes a request for a more onerous judgment than prayed for in the original pleading. '
When served with a petition alleging breach of contract, a defendant who fails to answer risks a default judgment as to contract
liability;
however unliquidated contract
damages
cannot be assessed absent an evidentiary hearing. Tex.R.Civ.P. 243;
Morgan v. Compugraphic Corp.,
A suit on a sworn account differs from an unsworn action for breach of contract because, absent the filing of a verified denial of the suit, the allegations contained in the plaintiffs pleadings are taken as prima facie evidence of the claim, including unliquidated damages. Tex.R.Civ.P. 185;
Vance v. Holloway,
The seconded amended petition, which was not served on the Atwoods, requested a more onerous judgment than the original amended petition. The original petition subjected the Atwoods to a judgment of liability for breach of contract, while the second amended petition subjected the At-woods not only to a judgment for liability, but also to a judgment for damages. We sustain the Atwoods’ first point of error. Because this point is dispositive, we do not address the Atwoods’ second point of error. Tex.R.App.P. 47.1.
The judgment of the trial court is REVERSED and this case is REMANDED for further action consistent with this opinion.
Notes
. The roofing company is not a party to this suit.
. The record contains copies of sheriffs returns, dated October 22, 1998, showing service of the original petition. Copies of these same returns are included following the second amended petition, which was filed on March 15, 1999. Apparently these returns were erroneously included in the record after the second amended petition. There are no documents in the record showing that the second amended petition was ever served on the Atwoods.