Supreme Court Adopts Petition Amending Default Judgment Rule

Recently, the Supreme Court adopted a petition amending the default judgment rule (Wis. Stat. § 806.02) for parties failing to timely file answers to complaints. Under previous law, only plaintiffs could obtain default judgments against defendants who fail to comply with deadlines in Wis. Stat. § 802.06(1). Under the statute as amended by the Supreme Court, default judgment may now be rendered in favor of any party in the case that does not comply with deadlines for answers and replies to complaints, counterclaims or cross claims.

The statutory changes from the petition are effective Jan. 1, 2019.