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Law Practice,
Appellate Practice

Dec. 22, 2022

Tips for drafting a civil complaint

Research federal, state and local rules to determine if there are any specific requirements you must adhere to in drafting your complaint.

Anne Schneider

Associate Attorney
Fenton Law Group LLP

Phone: (310) 444-5244

Email: aschneider@fentonlawgroup.com

Commencing a Lawsuit. A civil lawsuit commences when the party bringing the lawsuit, the plaintiff, files three distinct forms with a court: (1) a summons, which gives the party being sued, the defendant, notice of the lawsuit; (2) a civil cover sheet, which tells the court about the type of case that the plaintiff is filing (i.e., limited or unlimited); and (3) a complaint, which as the first pleading in a lawsuit, lays out the plaintiff's legal claims and re...

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