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Simple English definitions for legal terms
default judgment
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A quick definition of default judgment:
A default judgment is a decision made by a judge when the defendant in a legal case does not show up to court or respond to a court summons. This means that the plaintiff automatically wins the case. However, the defendant can still try to explain why they didn't show up and ask for the decision to be changed. The rules for default judgments can be different depending on where you live.
A more thorough explanation:
A default judgment is a decision made by a judge or court in favor of the plaintiff when the defendant fails to respond to a court summons or does not appear in court. This means that the plaintiff automatically wins the case because the defendant did not show up or respond.
For example, if someone sues their neighbor for damaging their property and the neighbor does not show up to court or respond to the lawsuit, the judge may issue a default judgment in favor of the person who filed the lawsuit.
However, the defendant may be able to have the default judgment overturned if they can provide a valid reason for not showing up or responding to the lawsuit. For instance, if the defendant was not properly served with the court summons, they may be able to have the default judgment vacated.
It's important to note that the criteria and rulings for default judgments may vary depending on the jurisdiction.