When someone sues another person in civil court, the person bringing the suit is generally called the “Plaintiff,” and the person against whom the suit is brought is the “Defendant.” If you are being sued, the Plaintiff will be required to “serve” you with a Complaint. A Complaint is a legal document filed in court explaining the claim the Plaintiff is bringing against the Defendant. Upon service of a Complaint, you should immediately contact a lawyer.
You will be required to file an answer to the Complaint, and there is a strict time limit to do so (usually 20 days). If you do not file your answer before this deadline, the Plaintiff can be granted a Default Judgment, which means the Plaintiff will be granted the relief he or she requested without giving you a chance to argue your position. Once a judgment is entered, it is usually very difficult and may even be impossible to get it reversed.
When someone sues another person in civil court, the person bringing the suit is generally called the “Plaintiff,” and the person against whom the suit is brought is the “Defendant.” If you are being sued, the Plaintiff will be required to “serve” you with a Complaint. A Complaint is a legal document filed in court explaining the claim the Plaintiff is bringing against the Defendant. Upon service of a Complaint, you should immediately contact a lawyer. The ones that want legal help can get more info about their civil rights attorneys to represent their case.
You will be required to file an answer to the Complaint, and there is a strict time limit to do so (usually 20 days). If you do not file your answer before this deadline, the Plaintiff can be granted a Default Judgment, which means the Plaintiff will be granted the relief he or she requested without giving you a chance to argue your position. Once a judgment is entered, it is usually very difficult and may even be impossible to get it reversed.
Even if you do file a response on your own within this time period, an attorney’s advice may be invaluable. There are certain defenses that may only be argued if they are brought up in the initial response. An attorney can review the Complaint served upon you and give advice on how to proceed. If you’ve been served with a Complaint, contact us at The Carroll Law Firm PLC by calling (623)551-9366.
