Nihil Dicit Law and Legal Definition
The term nihil dicit means “he says nothing.” This also refers to a judgment for want of a plea. Nihil dicit is a judgment by a judge rendered against a defendant who failed to plead and failed to answer a plaintiff's declaration or complaint within the prescribed time limit. When a defendant fails to say why a court should not issue a judgment against him, court can issue a nihil dicit. Courts consider a defendant’s failure to answer as an admission of the justice of the cause of action against the defendant. This leads to a presumption of admitting the merits of a plaintiff’s complaint and it affects the case so more strongly than a mere default of the defendant in not appearing in court.
Legal Definition list
Related Legal Terms
- Ei Incumbit Probatio Qui Dicit
- Haereditas Nihil Aliud Est, Quam Successio In Universum Jus, Quod Defunctus Habuerit
- Nihil Peti Potest Ante Id Tempus, Quo Per Rerum Naturam Persolvi Possit
- Nil-Dicit Default Judgment
- Omissio Eorum Quae Tacite Insunt Nihil Operatur
- Periodicity for Transactions Data
- Unde Nihil Habet
- Vox Nihili
