What is a default judgment?

A default judgment is issued when one party in a legal case fails to appear in court or respond to a legal action, usually in civil cases. This occurs typically when a defendant does not file an answer to a complaint, and as a result, the court may grant a ruling in favor of the plaintiff, assuming the allegations made in the complaint are true.

This mechanism serves to protect the interests of the party that has taken the initiative in pursuing the case and helps to ensure that the legal process moves forward even when one party is non-compliant. The situations leading to default judgments are treated seriously; thus the law provides stipulations under which a party can seek to have the judgment set aside if they can present a valid reason for their absence or lack of response.

While other options reference different legal concepts, they do not accurately define a default judgment. For instance, a ruling granted when one party defaults on a payment refers to a specific financial obligation that may lead to different court actions, but it does not capture the broader context of failing to appear in court or respond to a lawsuit, which is central to the definition of a default judgment.