Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Kentucky

Re: Judgement by Summary vs. Judgement by Default

A default judgment refers to a situation where the defendant in a legal action fails to answer the complaint or respond in any way to the pleadings. Like a team failing to show up for a game, the defendant forfeits. In a summary judgment, the defendant does respond to the action. However, the judge determines, upon motion by a party, that even giving the most liberal benefit of the doubt, the non-moving party has no factual basis for continuing the action. The moving party wins "summarily" as a matter of law.