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A default judgment is a court judgment entered against a defendant who did not respond to a lawsuit in time. In plain terms, the case moves forward without that defendant participating, and the plaintiff can obtain a judgment that carries the same force as any other judgment. In New Jersey civil cases, default practice is governed primarily by Rule 4:43, and the consequences can be immediate and serious once judgment is entered and collection tools become available.

If your employee handbook has been sitting in a desk drawer collecting dust, you’re not alone. Most small business owners write one when they first hire employees and then forget about it. The problem is that New Jersey employment law doesn’t sit still. Statutes change, agency guidance shifts, and courts look at what your handbook actually says—and whether you followed it—when deciding cases.