Default Judgment and Dismissals

• Author: Scott Brister (Ret.)/Dan S. Boyd
• Pages: 1185-1230

37-1

Chapter 37

DEFAULT JUDGMENT &

DISMISSALS

QUICK VIEW

Definitions: A defendant in default has failed to do something required to defend an action, most typically, to

answer. When a defendant is in default, the plaintiff may be entitled to a default judgment on his or her claim. A

nonsuit is a voluntary dismissal of a case or claim. A nonsuit is usually not a judgment on the merits, but it may

be “with prejudice” if accomplished in connection with a settlement. The court may dismiss a suit for want of

prosecution if any party seeking affirmative relief shows a lack of diligence in prosecuting the suit.

Scope of chapter: Grounds and procedures for taking a default judgment; unliquidated damages hearings;

grounds and procedures for seeking relief from a default judgment; how to take a nonsuit (voluntary dismissal);

whether to take a nonsuit; effect of a nonsuit; grounds for an involuntary dismissal; procedure for taking an

involuntary dismissal; motions to reinstate after a dismissal.

Statutes and rules: TRCP 162 - 165a, 239, 239a, 241, 243, 244, 301.

Related topics: Motion practice, Ch 16; Summary Judgment, Ch 36; Settlement and ADR, Ch 38.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Default Judgment

A. Basic Points

§37:01 Available if Defendant “Defaults”

§37:02 Types of Default Judgments

§37:03 Judgment Nihil Dicit

§37:04 Who’s Subject to Default Judgment

§37:05 Judgment Is on the Merits

§37:06 Limited to the Pleadings

B. No-Answer Default

1. BASIC POINTS

§37:12 Authority

§37:13 Default Is Admission of Liability

§37:14 EXCEPTION: Liability Negated by Pleading

(Rev. 10, 4/13)

TEXAS PRETRIAL PRACTICE 37-2

2. BARS AND HURDLES TO JUDGMENT

a. Basic Points

§37:20 No Judgment if Answer Filed

§37:21 If Answer Is Informal or Defective

§37:22 If Process Served by Publication

§37:23 If Process Served via Secretary of State

§37:24 Motion Too Early or Late

b. Failure to Serve Amended Petition

§37:30 Effect of Failure: Split of Authority

§37:31 If Amendment Is More Onerous

§37:32 Onerousness Is Not Dispositive Issue

§37:33 How to Effect Service

3. MOTION FOR JUDGMENT

a. Basic Points

§37:38 Motion Not Required, But…

§37:39 No Notice to Defendant Required

b. Timing

§37:44 Earliest Date to Move

§37:45 Not Ripe Before Appearance Day

§37:46 Must Move Before Trial

c. Motion Papers

i. Basic Points

§37:52 Formal Motion

§37:53 Certificate of Last Known Address

§37:54 Request for (Unliquidated) Damages Hearing

§37:55 Affidavit That Defendant Is Not in Military

ii. Proposed Judgment

§37:60 Required Elements

§37:61 Final or Interlocutory

§37:62 Mother Hubbard Clause

d. Opposing the Motion

§37:68 File Answer to Petition

§37:69 Timing: File Before Any Judgment

4. HEARING ON DAMAGES

a. Liquidated Damages

§37:74 No Evidence Required, If…

§37:75 What Damages Are “Liquidated”?

§37:76 Proof Must Be Part of Petition

b. Unliquidated Damages

§37:82 Evidentiary Showing Required

§37:83 What Damages Are “Unliquidated”?

§37:84 Attorney Fees

§37:85 Types of Evidence Allowed

§37:86 Proof of Causation

§37:87 Timing of Hearing

§37:88 Rendition or Remand?

37-3 DEFAULT JUDGMENT & DISMISSALS

c. Defendant’s Participation

§37:94 No Notice of Hearing Required

§37:95 Scope of Participation

§37:96 What’s Not Permitted

§37:97 Demand for Jury Trial on Damages

C. Post-Answer Default

1. BASIC POINTS

§37:102 Grounds: Not Appearing for Trial

§37:103 No Judgment if Default Was Minor

§37:104 Plaintiff Must Prove Entire Case

§37:105 Court May Not Strike Answer

§37:106 Post-Answer Default Cannot Be Granted Without Notice

2. THE TRIAL

§37:110 Notice of Trial Required

§37:111 Defendant’s Presence Not Required

§37:112 Jury Trial Waived by Default

D. Default Judgment as Discovery Sanction

§37:118 Authority

§37:119 No Proof of Liability Required

§37:120 Unliquidated Damages Require Proof

§37:121 Limited Right to Jury

§37:122 Notice of Damages Hearing Required

E. Interlocutory and Final Judgments

1. INTERLOCUTORY JUDGMENT

§37:128 Basic Points

§37:129 On Liability Alone

§37:130 Against Multiple Defendants

2. FINAL JUDGMENT

a. General Requirements and Procedures

§37:136 Nature

§37:137 Role & Significance

§37:138 Requirements for Validity

§37:139 Form and Content

§37:140 Rendition, Signing, and Entry

§37:141 Finality

b. In Default Judgment Cases

§37:146 If Damages Are Readily Provable

§37:147 Finality of Interlocutory Judgment

§37:148 Post-Judgment Notice

F. Relief From Default Judgment

1. MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL (MNT)

a. Basic Points

§37:154 First Chance for Relief

§37:155 To Preserve Appeal

§37:156 Time Limit on Court’s Plenary Power

§37:157 Filing Motion Extends Plenary Period

§37:158 Where First Notice of Judgment Is More Than 20 Days After Rendition

(Rev. 10, 4/13)