defendant

A person against whom legal proceedings are commenced in a court or tribunal.

Once proceedings have been issued, a defendant is required to comply with strict timetables. If the defendant fails to file an acknowledgement of service within 14 days of service of the claim form (provided it is accompanied by the particulars of claim) or file a Defence within 28 days of the service of the claim form, the claimant may apply for judgment in the proceedings.

Judgment may be applied for by filing a Request for Judgment or filing an application notice for Default Judgment.

Usage: The defendant was ordered to pay the claimant the sum of £100,000 in the judgment.

Related Words: acknowledgement of service; claimant; service of proceedings; respondent; applicant; application notice; co-claimant; co-defendant; request for judgment; claim form; defence: litigation; litigation; locus standi; judgment; Civil Procedure Rules; overriding objective.