The bringing, maintaining, and defense of a lawsuit comprise the litigation process.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Legal action to resolve disputes between parties (may be individuals, businesses, or in some cases. government agencies.

Brought by the government against a party accused of violating the law.

The paperwork that is filed with the court to initiate and respond to a lawsuit.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PLEADINGS?

1. THE COMPLAINT
2. THE ANSWER
3. THE CROSS-COMPLAINT
4. THE REPLY

The party who is suing.

COMPLAINT

The document the plaintiff files eith the court and serves on the defendant to initiate a lawsuit.

*Also called a plaintiff's original petition or summons in some jurisdictions.

SUMMONS

A court order directing the defendant to appear in court and answer the complaint.

The party who files the answer.

CROSS-COMPLAINT

OR

COUNTER CLAIM

Filed by the defendant against the plaintiff to seek damages or some other remedy.

CROSS-COMPLAINANT

The defendant

CROSS-DEFENDANT

The plaintiff.

Filed by the original plaintiff to answer the defendant's cross-complaint.

IF other person have an interest in a lawsuit, they may step in and become parties to the lawsuit.

If several plaintiffs have filed separate lawsuits stemming from the same fact situation against the same defendant, the court can initiate a consolidation of the cases into one case if it would not cause undue prejudice to the parties.

A law that establishes the period during which a plaintiff must bring a lawsuit against a defendant.

*Federal and state govenrnments have established statutes of limitations for each type of lawsuit. Most are from 1-4 years.