Responses to the Complaint

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 After the complaint is filed and served, the next step in the litigation process is up to the defendants.  At this point, they have various options.  The defendants can contest the lawsuit, negotiate a settlement with the plaintiff, or do nothing.  If the defendants challenge the lawsuit, they can do so on two bases.  They can either contest the facts of the case, or they can challenge the action on some legal basis.  If the defendants choose to contest the action, they must act within certain time limitations, which is normally fixed by the statutory laws of the jurisdiction in which the action is pending and can vary from one jurisdiction to another.