Fill and Sign the This is a Brief Explanation of the Process of Obtaining a Judgment in Magistrate Court When the Defendant Form

INFORMATION SHEET: AFFIDAVIT FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT This is a brief explanation of the process of obtaining a judgment in magistrate court w hen the defendant has not answered or appeared, which is called a default judgment. To start the process you must file a def ault judgment affidavit form [form SCA -M429/10 -96] which can be obtained from the magistrate clerk’s office. There are two things in particular that you need to be aware of when filling out the default judgment aff idavit form. P ROOF OF THE RELIEF : At number 4 of the affidavit for default judgment form, you have 3 choices regarding the damages you are seeking, form which you are to select one: (a) For the amount of $ , as alleged due and owing in the complaint and still due and owing; (b) For the amount of $ which is the amount of $ as alleged in the complaint reduced by the amount of $ paid since the suit was instituted; OR (c) For an amount that can be made certain by computation. Please be aware that choice (c) means more than you have alleged damages for a certain dollar amount in your complaint. Item (c) should only be marked if the amount of damages you are seeking to recov er cannot be reasonably disputed, is settled with respect to amount, has been ascertained and agreed upon by you and the defendant, or is fixed by operation of law. If you mark choice (c), then the m agistrate M AY not hold a hearing before deciding whether to render a default, or the magistrate M AY decide that the information in the court record indicates that choice (a) or (b) really applies so a hearing should be scheduled. If you mark choices (a) or (b), then a hearing will be scheduled. At this hearing you and the defendant will be given an opportunity to introduce evidence supporting why the relief you are requesti ng is proper. You should be prepared to present evidence such as receipts, bills or estimates to prov e that the amount of damages you are requesting is appropriate. M ILITARY STATUS OF THE DEFENDANT : Item 6 of the default judgment affidavit form gives you 3 choices regarding the military status of the defendant from which you have to select one: (a) the defendant is in military service; (b) the defendant is not in military service; OR (c) the plaintiff is unable to determine whether or not the defendant is in military service. If you mark that the defendant is in military service or that you are unable to determine whether or not the defendant is in military service, then federal law [50 U.S.C. Appendix § 520] does not permit a c ourt to render a default judgment in this case unless you present evidence that the defendant is not in military service or unl ess you seek the appointment of an attorney to protect the defendant’s interest. The appointment of an attorney is not automatic under the federal law. To start the process of having an attorney appointed you must file the “Notice: Request for Appointment of Counsel” form [S CA-M420NP/5 -97] which can be obtained from the magistrate clerk’s office. If you do not request that an attorney be appointed or if you do not submit evidence that the defendant is not in the military and if you case is not active for more than 6 months, then your case will be dism issed. If your case should be dismissed because it has been inactive for more than 6 months, you can file suit again and you will have to pay filing fees for the new case. If you mark that the defendant is not in the military service, then you need not do anything more than submit the completed affidavit for default judgment to the clerk of the court where your cas e is pending. The court will notify you about what will happen next in your case. SCA -MI 402NP / 6 -99 Mag. Civ. Rule 10; W. VA. Code § 50-4-10 Docket Code(s): 50 U.S.C. APPENDIX § 520