Q. Judge Smith, what is a default judgment? Does a default judgment end the case? Thank you, Dee.A. Due process of law requires notice and an opportunity to be heard. Plaintiffs begin lawsuits by filing complaints against defendants. The purpose of a complaint is to tell a defendant what he did, how it damaged the plaintiff, and the remedy the plaintiff seeks.The plaintiff gives the defendant notice by having him served with the complaint and a summons. The summons informs the defendant of what he must do to defend the claim and the consequences of ignoring the lawsuit. The summons advises the defendant when he must respond to the case by filing and serving a motion or an answer denying liability. Otherwise, the summons informs the defendant he may lose the case by inaction.

Defendants have the right to be heard if they timely contest their lawsuits. Otherwise, they waive that right and open themselves to losing by default.

The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure allow a plaintiff to move for a default judgment when a defendant fails to file or serve any paper by the deadline. Filing a paper means submitting it to the court’s clerk. Serving a paper means handing, mailing, or emailing a response to the plaintiff or opposing lawyer.