Final answer:
If the defendant does not respond to the complaint in a timely manner, she is said to default, which may lead to a default judgement against her. This is not an admission of guilt but a failure to participate in the litigation process, though there may be a chance to set aside the judgement if a valid reason is provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the defendant does not respond to the complaint in time, she is said to default. In legal terms, this means that the defendant has failed to respond to the legal action within the stipulated time frame, often resulting in a default judgement against her. This can happen in civil proceedings and is typically a result of the defendant not submitting an answer or other responsive pleading to the court in response to the plaintiff's complaint.
It's important to note that a default judgement is not an admission of guilt but a procedural consequence of not actively participating in the litigation process. The judge decides in favor of the plaintiff by default because there has been no defense presented. However, in some jurisdictions, there may be an opportunity for the defendant to file a motion to set aside the default judgement if they have a valid reason for failing to respond, such as not receiving the complaint.