Parties failing to plead according to the rules and orders of the judicial authority may be nonsuited or defaulted, as the case may be. (See General Statutes § 52-119 and annotations.)
Section 10-18.Penalty for Failing To Plead
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA Connecticut party who fails to plead as required by court rules or a judge's order can be nonsuited (if the plaintiff) or defaulted (if the defendant).
Full Text of Section 10-18
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 128.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 10-18 sets out the consequence for not filing a required pleading on time or as ordered by the court: the judicial authority may nonsuit or default the party who failed to plead, depending on which side of the case that party is on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a party does not plead as required in a Connecticut case?
Section 10-18 provides that a party failing to plead according to the rules and orders of the judicial authority may be nonsuited or defaulted, as the case may be.
What is the difference between being nonsuited and being defaulted under this rule?
The rule itself does not spell out the distinction beyond noting that nonsuit or default applies depending on the circumstances; in practice these are the sanctions available against a party who fails to plead.
Is this rule connected to the implied-admissions rule?
Section 10-18 addresses the penalty for failing to plead at all, while Section 10-19 addresses what happens when a party pleads but fails to deny a specific allegation — both are consequences for inaction in responding to a case.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-18). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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