A lawsuit is a legal process that starts with the proper service of a complaint or summons. The plaintiff then asks the court for damages for the harm they suffered. A lawsuit can take several forms. The first one is called a complaint and details the facts of the case. The second type of lawsuit is called a summary judgment lawsuit.

Unlike a summary judgment, a lawsuit cannot be resolved by a simple decision. If the judge decides against the plaintiff, he or she can ask for a retrial or a reversal of the decision. The appellate court will look at the record and make its decision based on this. It does not conduct new trials, but it can overturn a lower court decision.

The first step in a lawsuit is the filing of a complaint in a federal court. A lawsuit outlines the facts that give the plaintiff the right to something and the harm that was caused by the defendant. In addition, it specifies the jurisdiction of the court to decide on the case. The complaint is the most important part of a civil lawsuit because it sets the factual foundation of the case and details the relief sought by the plaintiff.

When a lawsuit reaches trial, it involves live testimony from witnesses and cross-examination of those witnesses. A judge or jury decides on liability and damages. A jury may award non-monetary relief as well.