Actions - How tried - Judgments - When taken

Whenever any defendant answers the complaint in an action to quiet title and the issues have been joined, the claim for relief against the answering defendant may be tried separately to the court and a separate judgment may be entered thereon. Joint judgments by default may be taken, in the manner provided by law, against all defendants who may be in default, notwithstanding the fact that some of the defendants may have answered the complaint and that the issues presented thereby are pending trial.