What should a defendant's solicitor do if no response is filed within the time limits?

• A. Default judgment may be entered
• B. The claim is dismissed automatically
• C. The case is stayed
• D. The claimant may sue again

Answer: (A)

When a defendant fails to file a response within the allotted time, the claim can be resolved by a judgment in default. The court does not need to hear arguments on the merits because the defendant has not defended. This provides the claimant with a faster route to obtain a binding decision on the claim, assuming the claim and service were proper.

The defendant’s solicitor should be aware that if a default judgment is entered, there is a route to challenge it later by applying to have the judgment set aside, but this must be done promptly and usually requires showing a good reason for not defending and a viable defence to the claim.

As for the other options: there isn’t an automatic dismissal, an automatic stay, or a right for the claimant to sue again simply because no response was filed in time. Those outcomes do not reflect the standard procedural response when no defence is filed within the time limits.