Default judgment in a wrongful termination retaliation suit means what to th e plaintiff? How much in damages?

In most jurisdictions, a default judgment on an unliquidated claim, i.e. a claim where damages are not a set amount (a claim on a bounced check might be liquidated - the amount is set; a claim for libel would probably be unliquidated - the amount of damages can vary) would only be a judgment on liability, not damages.  The claimant would still be required to prove his/her/its damages in an inquest, where he/she/it will have to present evidence of what damages he/she/it sustained, and then a money judgment will be issued.  That sounds like your case.