Explanation of "Default Judgment"
Definition:
A "default judgment" is a legal decision made by a court in favor of one party (the plaintiff) when the other party (the defendant) does not show up in court or fails to respond to a legal complaint. Essentially, if someone is supposed to defend themselves in court but doesn’t, the court can automatically rule in favor of the person who brought the case.
Usage Instructions:
Use "default judgment" in legal contexts, such as discussions about court cases or legal proceedings.
It is often used when talking about situations where one side does not participate in a trial.
Example:
Advanced Usage:
In legal discussions, you might see phrases like: - "The court entered a default judgment after the defendant failed to respond to the summons." - "A default judgment can have serious consequences, including financial penalties for the defendant."
Word Variants:
Default (noun): The failure to fulfill an obligation, such as not making a payment.
Judgment (noun): A decision made by a court.
Different Meanings:
Default (verb): To fail to meet an obligation, such as paying a loan.
Judgment (verb): To form an opinion or make a decision about something.
Synonyms:
Summary judgment: A legal decision made without a full trial, often because there’s no dispute over the facts.
Automatic judgment: A term that can be used informally to describe a judgment that happens without the other party's involvement.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"In the default": This is not a common idiom but could imply being in a state of failing to perform an obligation.
"Fail to appear": This phrase often comes up in legal contexts and means that a defendant did not show up in court.
Conclusion:
A "default judgment" is an important concept in legal proceedings.