If a defendant fails to respond, what is the immediate expected effect in civil proceedings?

• A. The claim is automatically struck out.
• B. The court orders a trial date without delay.
• C. A default judgment may be entered against the defendant.
• D. The claimant must re-issue the claim.

Answer: (C)

When a defendant doesn’t respond within the allowed time, the claim can advance by default. The immediate effect is that a default judgment may be entered against the defendant. This means the court can decide the claim in the claimant’s favor without a full defense or trial, assuming proper service and that no defense has been filed. The claimant typically must apply to the court for this default judgment after the response deadline has passed. The result is not that the claim is automatically struck out, nor that a trial date is set without delay, nor that the claim must be re-issued.