Legal Definitions - nihil dicit default judgment

Definition: A legal term that refers to a default judgment entered against a defendant who fails to respond or appear in court after being properly served with a summons or complaint. The term "nihil dicit" means "he says nothing" in Latin, indicating the defendant's lack of response.

Example: If a plaintiff files a lawsuit against a defendant and properly serves them with a summons and complaint, the defendant has a certain amount of time to respond. If the defendant fails to respond within that time frame, the court may enter a default judgment against them. This means that the plaintiff automatically wins the case because the defendant did not defend themselves.

Explanation: The term "nihil dicit default judgment" is used to describe the situation where a defendant does not respond to a lawsuit and the court enters a judgment against them. This can happen in civil cases, such as breach of contract or personal injury lawsuits. The defendant's failure to respond is seen as an admission of guilt, and the plaintiff is awarded damages or other relief as a result.