§ 19-16. Appearance and answer; default judgment.
§19‑16. Appearance and answer; default judgment.
(a) On or before thereturn date specified in the summons issued pursuant to this Article, or within15 days after the service of such summons, or within 15 days after receivingactual notice of the issuance of such summons, the author, publisher or anyperson interested in sending or causing to be sent, bringing or causing to bebrought, into this State for sale or distribution or disseminating in anymanner, or any person in this State preparing, selling, offering, exhibitingor commercially distributing, or disseminating in any manner or possessing withintent to sell, offer or commercially distribute or exhibit or disseminate inany manner the material attached as an exhibit to the endorsed complaint, mayappear and may intervene as a respondent and file an answer.
(b) If, after serviceof summons has been effected upon all respondents, no person appears and filesan answer on or before the return date specified in the summons, the court mayforthwith adjudge whether the material so exhibited to the endorsed complaintis harmful to minors and enter an appropriate final judgment. (1969,c. 1215, s. 1.)