notice to plead
notice to plead. A warning to a defendant, stating that failure to file a responsive pleading within a prescribed time will result in a default judgment. • The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require the summons to notify the defendant that failure to appear and defend within a prescribed time will result in a default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(a). See PROCESS; SUMMONS; DEFAULT JUDGMENT; NOTICE TO APPEAR. [Cases: Pleading 83. C.J.S. Pleading § 171.]