DEFAULT, in common law, a failure to do some act required by law either as a regular step in procedure or as being a duty imposed. Default in compliance with a statute renders the de faulter liable to action by the person aggrieved or to indictment if the matter of command is of public concern, subject in either case to the qualification that the statute may limit the remedy for the default to some particular proceeding specifically indicated; and in some -instances, e.g., in the case of local authorities, default in the execution of their public duties is dealt with administratively by a department of the Government, and only in the last re sort, if at all, by recourse to judicial tribunals.