Originally posted by krowleey
wrong
"C. Default Judgment
If the defendant fails to come to court on the return date (or to answer on time in courts which
allow that instead), the judge or court commissioner will often enter a “default judgment” against the
defendant. For some types of cases, the complaint or plaintiff’s sworn testimony at the return date
hearing is enough proof for such a judgment. In some counties, for some kinds of cases (especially
damage and injury claims such as auto accidents) you might be asked to return to court and offer
evidence to prove your claim at a later time. The clerk will help schedule that for your convenience.
In some counties, the clerk will require you to sign an affidavit that to the best of your knowledge
the defendant is not in the military service before filing the default judgment. If you know the
defendant is presently in the military, your action may not be able to go to judgment.
If the plaintiff fails to appear timely on the return date (in those counties where required to do
so), the lawsuit will usually be dismissed by the court."
http://www.wicourts.gov/about/pubs/circuit/docs/smallclaims.pdf
As I said I live in wisconsin, not in CA. so it might be different out there. Also I not sure how this works across state lines.
A fictional movie has no bearing here.