What happens if a respondent fails to appear after being served?

When a respondent fails to appear after being served, a default judgment may be issued against them. This occurs because the court may interpret their non-appearance as an admission of the claims made in the complaint. Essentially, the respondent forfeits their right to contest the charges or claims brought against them by not responding or appearing in court. As a result, the plaintiff can request the court to issue a default judgment, which is a ruling in favor of the plaintiff due to the respondent's failure to respond.

In legal terms, this mechanism is in place to ensure that cases can proceed even when one party does not engage in the process. Default judgments are a tool for maintaining the efficiency of the court system by preventing delays caused by absentee respondents.