by 
The Curious Bag
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If a creditor files a lawsuit against you and you either do not appear in court on the day of the hearing or defend yourself but lose the case, a judgment will appear on your credit report. Judgments are public records that have a negative impact on your credit score.
Facts
It is possible to have a judgment removed from your credit report if the judgment is not yours, you did not receive proper notification of the judgment or if the original lawsuit was filed in the wrong court jurisdiction.
Time Frame
If the judgment is not renewed by the creditor or has been paid, it will be automatically removed from your credit report seven years from the date it was levied against you.
Considerations
To have the judgment overturned, you will have to return to court and file a petition to vacate the judgment, citing a valid legal reason for doing so.
Effects
In addition to being removed from your credit file, once the judgment is vacated, any results of the judgment, such as a wage garnishment, will also be overturned.
Warning
When you file to have the judgment vacated, the creditor to whom you owe the judgment amount will be notified and provided with the opportunity to again present evidence that you do, in fact, owe the debt.
Source:
Credit Infocenter: Vacating a Judgment
Cardreport: The Fair Credit Reporting Act (section 605)
More Information:
Experian.com: Credit Score Basics
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