What is a summons and complaint?

A summons and complaint is a type of legal document used in Washington to initiate a lawsuit. It is a required part of the process for filing a lawsuit and must be properly served to the defendant by an authorized party (the plaintiff or someone else). The summons outlines the lawsuit and contains instructions for the defendant to respond to the complaint, typically within a certain amount of time. The complaint outlines the facts and elements of the plaintiff’s case, as well as the relief requested, such as money damages or a court order. In Washington, a summons and complaint may be part of a personal injury case resulting from an accident, such as an auto accident or a slip and fall accident. The summons and complaint notifies the defendant of the claims and serves as the defendant’s notice to appear and defend the case. The court does not get involved in the lawsuit until the summons and complaint have been legally served to the defendant. In Washington, if the defendant does not respond to the summons and complaint, the court may enter a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

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