Every lawsuit starts with a written complaint/petition filed in court by the lawyer for the plaintiff. The plaintiff’s complaint lays out all of the relevant facts, then lists each cause of action (reason for suing), stated as a separate count. At the end of the complaint, the injured party will sum up his or her request for relief in a "prayer." This is a request for damages - financial compensation for your physical, emotional, financial and other injuries. (Please see Chapter Two for more about understanding your injuries.)

The people being sued are called defendants. After your lawyer files the complaint and has a copy served to the defendants, they must file a written document of their own, called the answer. The answer either admits or denies all of the points raised in the complaint. Because the answer includes reasons for these admissions and denials, it is often your first look at arguments the defendant is likely to make at trial. Together, the complaint and the answer frame the issues the lawsuit will ultimately be about.