Washington Code 12.08.020 – What constitute pleadings
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The pleadings in the justice’s court shall be:
Terms Used In Washington Code 12.08.020
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
(1) The complaint of the plaintiff, which shall state in a plain and direct manner the facts constituting the cause of action.
(2) The answer of the defendant, which may contain a denial of the complaint, or any part thereof; and also a statement, in a plain and direct manner, of any facts constituting a defense.
(3) When the answer sets up a setoff, by way of defense, the reply of the plaintiff.
[Code 1881 § 1757; 1873 p 344 § 56; 1854 p 231 § 44; RRS § 1779.]