If a plaintiff commits fraud to obtain damages in a personal injury case, what can the defendant do?

When a plaintiff commits fraud to obtain damages in a personal injury case, the correct option is for the defendant to move for relief from the judgment. This legal mechanism allows the defendant to request that the court set aside or vacate the judgment based on newly discovered evidence, fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct by the opposing party. Essentially, the defendant can argue that the fraud undermines the integrity of the judgment and that the court should reconsider its decision.

The grounds for relief emphasize the need for the legal process to be fair and honest. If a plaintiff secured damages through deceit, the court has the authority to rectify the situation by invalidating the fraudulent judgment. This allows the judicial system to maintain the rule of law and ensure that justice is served.

Other recourse options such as filing a criminal complaint may not directly address the civil judgment, as criminal actions pertain to the state’s enforcement of laws rather than the issues arising in a personal injury case. Requesting a new trial could potentially apply, but it generally requires showing procedural errors or other legitimate reasons rather than solely reliance on fraud. An appeal, too, would focus on legal errors made during the trial process rather than addressing misconduct or fraud that occurred post-judgment. Therefore, moving for relief