If the defendant does not respond to a complaint in a timely manner, what may occur?

• A. Default judgment
• B. Dismissal
• C. Remand
• D. Mistrial

Answer: (A)

When a defendant doesn’t respond to a civil complaint within the time allowed, the court can enter a default judgment. This means the plaintiff’s claims are accepted as true to the extent stated in the complaint, and the court can grant the relief requested, provided proper service and deadlines were met. The plaintiff might need to present evidence on damages if they weren’t specified in the complaint, and there’s usually a mechanism for the defendant to seek relief from the default later by showing good cause and a viable defense.

Dismissal would terminate the case for reasons like lack of jurisdiction or failure to prosecute, not simply because the defendant didn’t answer. Remand involves sending a case back to a lower court, and mistrial refers to a trial being invalidated due to procedural issues or a hung jury—neither is the typical consequence of failing to respond to a complaint.