What occurs if a defendant fails to file an answer within the designated time frame?

When a defendant fails to file an answer within the designated time frame, a default judgment may be entered in favor of the plaintiff. This means that the court may automatically rule against the defendant because they did not respond to the legal complaint. The purpose of filing an answer is to provide the court with the defendant’s side of the story and to contest the claims made by the plaintiff. If the defendant does not respond, it indicates a lack of defense against the allegations, which can lead the court to assume the claims are valid, resulting in a judgment without further proceedings. It is a legal mechanism intended to ensure that cases progress in a timely manner and that parties are held accountable to participate in the judicial process.

The other options do not accurately reflect the procedure following a failure to file an answer. For example, a case being automatically dismissed generally requires specific actions and is not a direct consequence of a defendant's inaction regarding an answer. Similarly, calling the defendant to appear in court or the plaintiff losing their case are not standard outcomes related to the failure to file an answer. Thus, the entry of a default judgment is the most appropriate and correct consequence in this scenario.