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Article 468 of the French Code of civil procedure

If, without legitimate reason, the plaintiff does not appear, the defendant may request a judgment on the merits, which will be adversarial, unless the judge decides to adjourn the case to a later hearing. The judge may also, even of his own motion, declare the summons null and void. The judge may also, even of his own motion, declare the summons null and void. The declaration that the summons has…

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Article 469 of the French Code of civil procedure

If, after having appeared, one of the parties fails to complete the acts of the proceedings within the required time limits, the judge shall rule by contradictory judgment in the light of the elements available to him. The defendant may, however, ask the judge to declare the summons null and void.

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Article 470 of the French Code of civil procedure

If none of the parties completes the procedural acts within the required time limits, the judge may, of his own motion, strike out the case by a decision not subject to appeal after a final notice addressed to the parties themselves and to their agent if they have one.

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Article 471 of the French Code of civil procedure

A defendant who does not appear may, on the initiative of the plaintiff or on a decision taken ex officio by the judge, be invited to appear again if the summons was not delivered in person. Subject to the application of rules specific to certain jurisdictions, the summons is repeated in the same manner as the first summons. The judge may, however, order that it be made by a bailiff’s…

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Article 473 of the French Code of civil procedure

When the defendant does not appear, the judgment is rendered by default if the decision is final and if the summons was not delivered in person. The judgment is deemed to be contradictory when the decision is subject to appeal or when the summons was delivered in person to the defendant.

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Article 474 of the French Code of civil procedure

In the event of a plurality of defendants summoned for the same matter, where at least one of them does not appear, the judgment is deemed to be contradictory with regard to all of them if the decision is subject to appeal or if those who do not appear have been summoned in person. Where the decision is not subject to appeal and at least one of the parties who…

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Article 475 of the French Code of civil procedure

The judge may not rule before the expiry of the longest time limit for appearance, on first or second summons. He shall rule in respect of all the defendants in a single judgment, unless the circumstances require that he rule in respect of some of them only.

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