Effect of Lame server on resolution

[Brian Sullivan]

What effect does having a server that is supposed to be authoritative for a
zone but does not respond as such ( this is the definition of a 'lame
server"?) , temporarily perhaps -- (a secondary that has not been restarted
or whose zone information has timed out and has not been tranferred again)
have on name resolution?

Do other name servers just pass it by until they find a non lame server?