If the defendant does not properly respond to the summons and complaint, either by ignoring it or by procrastinating on a response, then the plaintiff may get a complete and valid judgment against him/her.
(1) Unless a different time is prescribed in a statute of Florida, a defendant must serve an answer within 20 days after service of original process and the initial pleading on the defendant, or not later than the date fixed in a notice by publication.
Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.070 (j) states that a complaint must be served upon the defendant within 120 days after the complaint is filed. If it is not served within this time frame, a motion to dismiss is appropriate and the case is dismissed without prejudice.
An answer is typically the first responsive pleading filed by a defendant in a civil case. It responds to each allegation in a complaint through an admission or denial, as well as presents any defenses, affirmative defenses, counterclaims or cross-claims.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission may be reached at (850) 488-1581 or . Upon submission of an electronic Complaint form, the Complainant must print and sign the Complaint form and mail the original Complaint to the Panel.
Failure to Respond: If a defendant fails to answer the complaint or file a motion to dismiss within the time limit set forth in the summons, the defendant is in default. The plaintiff can ask the court clerk to make a note of that fact in the file, a procedure called entry of default.
The Defendant's Answer Under federal rules, defendants generally have 21 days to file an answer after they are served with a complaint; the U.S. government has 60 or 90 days, depending on whether it has waived service.
(1) Unless a different time is prescribed in a statute of Florida, a defendant must serve an answer within 20 days after service of original process and the initial pleading on the defendant, or not later than the date fixed in a notice by publication.