According to US law, the party against whom a complaint has been filed (in this case, the Indian government) has to respond within 21 days. If they do not do so, that would entail a "default" judgment. "In case of a default on the part of the defendants, the court will state that the erring party has admitted that they are liable to the charges brought against them," Anandhi Rajan, a US-based based civil litigator with over 30 years of experience, said while speaking to The Quint. In such a situation, the worst that could happen is that a trial would be brought before the defendants on damages, i.e., a trial to show how the plaintiff (Pannun) has been "damaged" because of the alleged assault and infliction of emotional distress.