What effect does a default judgment have on personal jurisdiction?

A default judgment occurs when a defendant fails to respond to a legal action, typically by not appearing in court or failing to answer the complaint. This lack of response can lead to a situation where the court considers the allegations in the plaintiff's complaint as true, resulting in a binding ruling against the defendant.

The correct answer reflects the principle that a default judgment can create binding rulings against a defendant who has not contested the court's jurisdiction. When a defendant does not participate in the proceedings, they effectively waive their right to dispute the personal jurisdiction that the court previously established over them. As a result, the court can issue a judgment that is enforceable, meaning the defendant is bound by the terms of that judgment even if they believed the court did not have proper jurisdiction in their case.

This principle underlines the importance of responding to lawsuits and engaging in the legal process, as failing to do so can result in significant and irreversible legal consequences.