When you’re confused by legal terms, wouldn’t it be great to talk to a lawyer who simplifies the jargon and speaks in clear language? We’ve done that for you with this glossary of legal terms.
Here’s the difference between complaint and answer:
There’s two main documents that start a lawsuit: the first one is a complaint. That’s filed by the plaintiff, and it sets forth allegations that the plaintiff alleges the defendant did.
The answer to the complaint is the document filed by the defendant, and it responds to each of the allegations in the plaintiff’s complaint. So, the complaint initiates the lawsuit, and the answer responds to the complaints in the lawsuit.
In short, a complaint and an answer are the two main documents that begin any type of litigation.
Hear Andy Kryder, a Chicago personal injury attorney who excels at simplifying complex legal terms, explain a legal complaint and answer.
“The complaint is the document that the plaintiff (the person who feels like they’ve been harmed)files with the court. It sets forth allegations that the other person or entity that they’ve sued has done to cause them harm, and it also sets forth whatever cause of action they are seeking relief under.”
He further explains how a plaintiff may be seeking relief, “Meaning damages or judicial order. [It] could be breach of contract, it could be tort: meaning negligence, medical malpractice, any of those types of things.”
Andy explains that in legalese, a petition and a complaint are the same thing, “A complaint or a petition is sometimes used interchangeably, and the answer is the document that the defendant files in response to the complaint.”
“Think of it this way,” Andy continues, “the harmed person alleges in detail what they feel has happened, and then the answer responds to each of those allegations in turn.”
If you or a family member has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation. We have decades of experience handling personal injury cases, and we will explain the entire legal process to you in simple language.
Our personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of success helping our clients get the maximum amount of compensation possible with all types of personal injury cases including vehicle accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, construction site injuries, nursing home abuse, wrongful death claims, and more.
We understand how insurance companies work, and we’ll handle all of your paperwork while you focus on recovery. Call us today to get started. We look forward to helping you with your claim.