Code: Default Judgment (Missed-hearing penalty decision)
Description: (Default Judgment) is a decision entered when you do not respond to a summons or miss your hearing, and the court or hearing office automatically finds you in violation and imposes the legally required default penalty. In NYC OATH / ECB cases, a default judgment usually means you owe the full maximum fine plus extra default fees and interest.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC homeowner, a default judgment means you did not answer a violation summons on time, so the city has already decided you are guilty and has charged you the highest penalty, often with extra fees and interest. If you do nothing, that unpaid default can be turned into a judgment lien against you or your property and may be sent to collection or enforcement.
Where You May See It: OATH default decision letters, NYC Department Of Finance judgment notices, ECB / OATH online case status, DOF settlement offers, title searches showing judgment liens, attorney or title company emails during a sale or refinance.
Why It Matters: Default judgments often cost much more than the original fine and can lead to judgment liens that appear on title reports, which can block sales, refinancing, or new permits until they are paid or settled. You may be able to reopen a default and get a new hearing if you act within the allowed time (for example, about 75 days in many OATH cases), but if you wait too long you may lose that chance and be stuck with the full default penalty.