Failure to Respond: If a defendant fails to answer the complaint or file a motion to dismiss within the time limit set forth in the summons, the defendant is in default. The plaintiff can ask the court clerk to make a note of that fact in the file, a procedure called entry of default.

A plaintiff is defined as the person who files a lawsuit. The prosecutor is always the plaintiff in a criminal case because they are the ones filing the accusations against a person. Plaintiff is really more of a term in civil law.

In a civil case, the person or entity that files the lawsuit is called the plaintiff. The person or entity being sued is called the defendant. In a civil case, the “defendant” is the person or entity being sued and the “plaintiff” is the person or entity filing the lawsuit.

Examples are murder, assault, theft,and drunken driving. Civil law deals with behavior that constitutes an injury to an individual or other private party, such as a corporation. Examples are defamation (including libel and slander), breach of contract, negligence resulting in injury or death, and property damage.

“Civil” cases are the cases in which private citizens (or companies) sue each other in court. General civil cases, usually involving suing someone for money in disputes over things like contracts, damage to property, or someone getting hurt. Family law cases such as divorce, child support, child custody, and adoptions.

Emotional distress examples include fear, anxiety, crying, lack of sleep, depression and humiliation. You might use your own testimony, testimony from family and friends and journaling of your symptoms over time to show the emotional impact of the accident.