A lawsuit is a legal action by one party (the plaintiff) against another party (the defendant). This usually involves seeking money or other relief from the person or business that caused a harm.

Typically, the plaintiff’s attorney will prepare the lawsuit and serve a copy of it on the defendant. This complaint includes information about the damages or injury, the facts that show that the plaintiff has a cause of action and how to proceed in court.

After the defendant has been served, the parties may start to file motions and pleadings. These pleadings can include motions for summary judgment, which is the legal process by which a judge decides whether or not the plaintiff’s claims are legally valid.

Some lawsuits will go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the case and the plaintiff’s damages. This process can take a long time and is often expensive.

Before a lawsuit goes to trial, the parties must decide if it is worth it to spend the time and money involved in a civil action. This can involve deciding if the claim is worth defending, if counterclaims could work in your favor or whether to settle.