Generally, a lawsuit is a civil proceeding where two parties argue for a legal remedy. It can be a civil or criminal case, and can involve a business or nonprofit organization. In some cases, a plaintiff seeks monetary compensation. In other cases, a plaintiff can ask for an order preventing the defendant from committing a certain type of conduct.

A lawsuit begins with the plaintiff filing a complaint. The complaint lists the facts and figures that support the plaintiff’s claim. It also describes the harm the plaintiff has suffered as a result of the defendant’s actions. The plaintiff then delivers a copy of the complaint to the defendant. The defendant then has a specified amount of time to respond to the complaint.

In some cases, the parties may opt to settle the case out of court. They may also file a motion to end the suit. In some cases, the parties may request to sever the claims into separate actions.

The court will usually set a trial date and time. At the trial, the parties will present their evidence to the jury. The jury will then determine the defendant’s liability, and decide the amount of damages the plaintiff can collect.

The length of time a lawsuit will last is determined by the issues in the case and the amount of discovery conducted by the parties. Some cases are resolved quickly, while others will go through an exhaustive trial.

If the defendant fails to respond to the complaint, the plaintiff can file a motion to dismiss. This is most often done when the defendant brings up a procedural issue.