Legal Definitions - judgment execution

Judgment execution refers to the legal process by which a party who has won a lawsuit (known as the "judgment creditor") enforces a court's decision against the losing party (the "judgment debtor") to obtain the relief granted by the court. This process is initiated when the losing party fails to voluntarily comply with the court's order, and it often involves compelling them to pay money, but can also include other actions like seizing property or compelling specific actions.

• Example 1: Collecting Unpaid Business Debt

  A small web design firm, "Pixel Perfect Designs," successfully sues a former client, "Local Eateries Inc.," for $10,000 in unpaid services. The court issues a judgment in favor of Pixel Perfect Designs. However, Local Eateries Inc. ignores the judgment and refuses to pay. Pixel Perfect Designs then initiates judgment execution by obtaining a writ of execution, which allows them to instruct the sheriff to levy Local Eateries Inc.'s bank accounts or seize certain business assets to satisfy the $10,000 debt. This action forces the losing party to comply with the court's financial order.

• Example 2: Enforcing Personal Injury Damages

  Maria was awarded $75,000 in damages by a court after winning a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver, Robert. Robert, who was uninsured, refuses to pay the judgment. Maria's attorney begins the process of judgment execution by seeking a court order to garnish Robert's wages. This means a portion of Robert's paycheck will be directly withheld by his employer and sent to Maria until the full $75,000 judgment is satisfied. This demonstrates how the legal system can compel payment when a judgment debtor is unwilling.

• Example 3: Recovering Funds from a Breach of Contract

  A homeowner, Mr. Davies, won a lawsuit against a roofing company, "Secure Roofers LLC," for failing to complete a contracted job and for causing additional damage to his property. The court ordered Secure Roofers LLC to pay Mr. Davies $25,000 to cover the repair costs and the expense of hiring a new contractor. When Secure Roofers LLC fails to make the payment, Mr. Davies's lawyer pursues judgment execution by placing a lien on the company's business property and seeking a court order to seize funds from their corporate bank accounts. This action ensures that Mr. Davies receives the compensation the court determined he was owed.