How on eartch can he rule in favor of a defaulting party who did not appear or even put up a defense or present counter evidence?
This smells awful.
Because he is scared?
He offered a default judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. They preferred to have him rule on he merits of the case.
How on eartch can he rule in favor of a defaulting party who did not appear or even put up a defense or present counter evidence?