Opinion ID: 2013434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Judicial Discretion to Strike the Answer

Text: ¶ 35. The second issue is whether a circuit court may strike an answer if the answer is not filed within a reasonable time after service. ¶ 36. A circuit court's determination that an answer has not been filed within a reasonable time after service permits the court to impose a sanction on the late filer, but the appropriate sanction, if any, is not identified in the rule. In this case, Split Rock moved the court under Wis. Stat. § 806.02(2) to strike Lumber Liquidators' answer and then enter a default judgment. [14] ¶ 37. A party may move for default judgment in a variety of situations under various statutes. When a motion is made under Wis. Stat. § 806.02(1)-(4), the movant must show that no issue of law or fact has been joined. Thus, when an answer has been served late or filed late, a motion to strike the late answer is a prerequisite to a default judgment. See Reynolds v. Taylor, 60 Wis. 2d 178, 179, 208 N.W.2d 305 (1973); Martin v. Griffin, 117 Wis. 2d 438, 441-42, 344 N.W.2d 206 (Ct. App. 1984); see also Connor v. Connor, 2001 WI 49, ¶ 14, 243 Wis. 2d 279, 627 N.W.2d 182. [15] ¶ 38. A successful motion to strike an answer will normally lead to a default judgment. Therefore, a motion to strike an answer to facilitate a default judgment should satisfy the same criteria as the motion for default judgment. Martin, 117 Wis. 2d at 442. The criteria will vary depending upon the circumstances. [14] [16] ¶ 39. In short, a circuit court may strike an answer if the answer is not filed within a reasonable time after servicebut only in those circumstances in which the circuit court, exercising sound discretion, may enter default judgment.