Anatomy of a Civil Lawsuit

Filing the ComplaintCivil cases do not involve an allegation by the government that an individual or entity violated the criminal laws of the United States. Civil cases begin when a plaintiff - the party seeking relief - files a complaint. The act of informing individuals or businesses about a complaint filed against them is called service of process. Generally, a lawsuit must be filed in the jurisdiction where the defendant resides or where the claim arose. The complaint states the claim that the plaintiff is making - why he, she, or it is entitled to relief. And it states the kind of relief sought. There are three principal forms of relief:Declaratory judgment: a decision of the court that determines the rights of parties without ordering anything be done or awarding monetary damages.Injunction: a court order requiring the defendant to do a specific act or prohibiting a defendant from doing a specific act. If a true…