What does "default judgment" signify?

A "default judgment" occurs when a court makes a decision in favor of one party because the other party failed to respond to a legal action or appear in court. This typically happens when a defendant does not file a timely response to the plaintiff’s complaint or fails to attend a scheduled court hearing. The court can then issue a judgment against the absent party based solely on the evidence presented by the party that did appear. This legal action serves to ensure that cases can be resolved even when one party does not engage in the legal process. Default judgments are common in civil lawsuits, where the failure to respond can lead to significant consequences, including financial penalties or enforcement of the plaintiff’s claims as ruled by the court.