What is a complaint?

A complaint is a legal document used to start a civil lawsuit in Kansas. It outlines the facts of the case, such as who the parties involved are, what the dispute is about, and what the plaintiff (person bringing the lawsuit) is asking the court to do. The complaint also states what laws the plaintiff believes the defendant (the person being sued) has violated. When a complaint is filed, it must be "served" on the defendant, meaning it must be delivered to the defendant in a way that allows them to read and understand the lawsuit. Once the complaint is served, the defendant has a certain amount of time to respond, by filing an "Answer" to the complaint. The answer sets out the defendant’s response to each of the allegations set out in the complaint. After the complaint is answered, each side will likely engage in legal procedures such as filing motions, exchanging documents, and attending hearings. After all of these steps, the court may decide whether to grant a judgment in favor of one party or to settle the case. If the court grants a judgment, the plaintiff may receive a money award or other relief.

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