What is the pleading stage of civil procedure?
The pleading stage of civil procedure is the first step in resolving a civil dispute in Massachusetts. This is when the parties involved in the dispute file legal documents that explain their side of the dispute and what type of relief they are seeking. Both parties start by filing a complaint and answer. The complaint is a legal document that states the facts of the dispute and what type of relief the plaintiff is seeking. The answer is a legal document that the defendant files to admit, deny, or dispute each of the plaintiff’s facts as stated in the complaint. The parties then file different types of motions. Motions can be filed to request that the court make a certain ruling on a specific issue. Once the motions are decided upon, the parties may go to court for a hearing or a trial. The pleading stage of civil procedure is meant to give both parties the opportunity to explain their sides of the dispute before the court makes any rulings. This helps make sure that the court makes its decision based on the facts presented by both parties. It also helps the court to better understand the legal issues involved in the dispute so that they can make an informed decision.
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