An astonishing number of law suits are ignored by defendants each year and many plaintiffs are forced to approach the courts for a Default Judgment. It is important to realize that the worst possible action in the case of a law suit is to ignore the problem. Such an attitude will simply make things worse. The best course of action in cases of legal disputes is to obtain professional help as soon as possible.
It is normally the duty of the plaintiff to ensure that a law suit is served upon the defendant. He then has a certain period of time in which to respond. The response may be a notice of defense or may even be an admission of liability. However, if no response is made, the plaintiff is allowed to apply to the court for an immediate ruling forcing compliance to the demands made in the law suit.
Of course, no legal notice should ever be ignored and it is strongly advised to take action before matters come to the point where a court ruling is made automatically. However, even if matters have gone this far, it is still possible to ask the courts for relief and to defend the matter. This should be done immediately and preferably with the help of a competent attorney.
Most courts experience immense pressure to finalize cases and this is not possible if cases drag on. This is why these rulings are consistently granted. It provides relief to plaintiffs and it removes the case from the court register. That is why courts will only approve an application for relief if they are convinced that the defendant has a valid defense.
The consequences of these rulings can be devastating. It is possible for the court to rule that the demands of the plaintiff are satisfied by placing a lien on any property he may own. In many cases garnishee orders are approved and in some cases the assets of the defaulting party are seized for sale on an open auction.
When disputes arise between two parties it is always better to try and manage the matter out of court. This can help save the reputation and professional standing of the defendant and the matter can be resolved in a way that would be satisfactory to all the parties concerned. The services of a trusted lawyer can help ensure that the process is managed properly.
There can be no doubt that a Default Judgment can have very serious consequences. It is vitally important to obtain professional advice as soon as it becomes apparent that a law suit may be filed. In most cases such a drastic action can be avoided, but not if the matter is ignored.