
Anatomy of a Lawsuit
Whether you are contemplating initiating a lawsuit by suing someone or you have just been served with a summons and complaint in an existing lawsuit, entering into the civil litigation arena in California can be a scary feeling. Despite all of the self-help tools available, the court system is still a complicated process, and competent legal guidance is necessary. Here are the basics of a lawsuit in Superior Court in California. The Pleadings The pleadings are the initial papers filed both the plaintiff and defendant in the lawsuit. The plaintiff files a complaint to start the lawsuit (although in limited circumstances, a petition is used instead). The defendant then has a few choices on how to respond. The defendant can file an answer, which is a formal, legalized response to…