What is a default judgment in civil law?

A default judgment in civil law is a court judgment that is given in favor of the plaintiff (the person bringing the lawsuit) if the defendant (the person being sued) does not respond to the lawsuit or show up to their court date. This type of judgment can be given in Massachusetts if the defendant fails to comply with any of the procedural steps of the lawsuit. Default judgments are often given when the defendant has been notified of the lawsuit and given an opportunity to respond, but fails to do so. This can include missing an appointed court date, failing to follow court procedures, or not filing a response to the lawsuit. If the defendant does not respond, then the court will decide in favor of the plaintiff. Default judgments are important because it gives the plaintiff legal recourse for actions that were taken against them. The defendant can still appeal the judgment if they dispute it, or if the defendant can show that they had a valid reason for why they did not respond to the lawsuit or attend their court date.

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What is a default judgment in civil law?

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