A demurrer is a motion filed by the other party that says that your complaint doesn't establish a valid cause of action.Courts will usually allow you to file an amended complaint in order to fix any errors you may have in your original complaint.If you want to oppose the demurrer, you can draft your own legal motion.You will argue in the document that your complaint was not faulty.All required elements for each cause of action should be checked after you revisit your legal research.If you have questions or get confused about what to write, then you should contact a lawyer.
Step 1: The demurrer can be read.
The defendants will claim that your complaint is deficient.The defendants will argue that you didn't sufficiently allege a cause of action by leaving out a required element.Take out your complaint and read it side by side with the demurrer.You should check to see if the complaint has been summarized correctly.
Step 2: Find out how long you have to respond.
If you want to know how long you have to respond to the demurrer, you should read your state's rules of civil procedure.You can find the rules of civil procedure online by typing in your state.
Step 3: Don't forget to revisit your legal research.
Check to see if you have alleged your causes of action.If you sued for negligent behavior, you needed to show that the defendants owed you a duty, broke that duty and injured you.Your complaint is deficient if you forgot to include one of these elements.You should oppose the demurrer if you alleged all elements.You will argue that your complaint was legal.
Step 4: You need to check that you filed in the correct court.
If you filed the complaint in the wrong court, you can file a demurrer.If you filed a patent lawsuit in your state court, it should have been brought to federal court.Your cause of action may be barred by federal law.You cannot learn pre-emption law on your own.You should meet with an attorney.Ask the attorney if the demurrer has merit.
Step 5: The court should allow an amended complaint.
Most states and the federal government allow you to amend your complaint once.If you amend your complaint within 21 days, you can take advantage of this.You will need the court's permission to amend your complaint if you are past this time period.If justice requires, the court should allow an amended complaint.It should be easy to file an amended complaint.
Step 6: The amended complaint should be drafted.
Your amended complaint will replace your original complaint.All of the requirements for an original complaint must be included in your amended complaint.The title of your complaint and substantive changes will be the same.A statement of jurisdiction and venue, as well as previous lawsuits regarding the same facts, must be included in your amended complaint.
Step 7: Before the demurrer hearing, file your amended complaint.
You can shorten the demurrer process if you file an amended complaint before any hearings.The court may find the demurrer action to be pointless and deny it altogether.You can file an amended complaint at the courthouse where you originally filed it.The original complaint should be given to the clerk of courts.You will have to pay a filing fee if he or she accepts them.Your original filing fee will be larger than this fee.The clerk of courts will return copies of the amended complaint to you once you pay.One of the copies will be yours to keep while the other is used to serve the defendants.
Step 8: The other party should be served.
You will need to serve a copy of the amended paperwork to the other party in order to make them aware of your amended complaint.You can complete the service the same way you did the original complaint.If you are personally serving the defendants, you must have someone over the age of 18 who is not part of the action.The sheriff or U.S. can be hired for a small fee.To complete service for you.
Step 9: You should format your document.
There is a caption at the top of the page.The name of the court and the case number are included in the caption.The demurrer can be used to get this information.The opposition may have to be printed on pleading paper.The left-hand side has a numbered paper.You can get this paper from a stationery store or the law library.
Step 10: An introduction should be added.
You explain why you are opposing the demurrer in your introduction.You could say that the defendants have misquoted the law.You could write, "Defendant contends that Plaintiff has not pled and cannot allege sufficient facts for any cause of action."The law was misstated and the allegations were not included in the complaint.The Demurrer is without merit.
Step 11: The standard of review should be stated.
The word "Argument" should be written in bold, all caps below your introduction.It should be centered between the left- and right-hand margins.Underneath the heading is where you should tell the court how to review a demurrer.The standard of review in most states is very generous.The opposition motion will have a good chance of success.You might have to do more research to find a standard of review.A good basic principle of law is that a court is to assume all facts in a complaint are true.The court opinion explains the standard of review.
Step 12: You should explain why your complaint was sufficient.
You need to respond to the argument.You need to explain to the judge why your pleading was sufficient if the defendants argue that you did not plead a cause of action sufficiently.Each cause of action needs to be defended separately.The legal claim should be restated.An authoritative statute or court opinion is what you should cite.You should point out how much information you have in your complaint.The judge can find what you are referring to if you cite the paragraphs in your complaint.If the demurrer is based on aselective interpretation of facts, then you should state that.You should make this argument to remind the judge that he or she must assume the facts in your complaint are true for purposes of ruling on the case.
Step 13: A conclusion can be added.
You should ask the judge to overrule the demurrer and restate that the complaint was sufficient.The heading "Conclusion" should be bolded in this section.The Complaint in this matter is detailed and complete.The merits of the challenge should be decided rather than technical challenges to the pleadings.The court should overrule the demurrer.
Step 14: You can add your signature.
You should include a signature block with your name and address.You should add the date that you are signing the motion.
Step 15: The opposition to demurrer should be filed.
You should make several copies of your motion.The original and copies should be taken to the court clerk.To file the original, ask.The clerk should stamp your copies with the date.You should keep one copy of your records.
Step 16: You can serve a copy on the person.
You have to give the other side notice when you file a motion.You should serve the copy on the lawyer for the defendants.You can serve a copy the same way you served the complaint on the defendants.Someone 18 or older who is not a party to the lawsuit can make hand delivery.You can send a fax or mail notice.You can find acceptable methods in your state by reading the rules of civil procedure.
Step 17: Get ready for the hearing.
A reply to your opposition could be filed by the defendants.You will get it before the hearing.You can prepare by reading the papers.Take out your complaint, the demurrer, and any reply from the defendants.Explain to the judge why your complaint is sufficient.You don't need to argue facts or present evidence at the hearing because the judge will assume everything is true.
Step 18: The complaint should be filed again.
The court will usually dismiss your case if you lose the demurrer.You can refile your complaint as long as you follow the judge's ruling.What needs to be done to fix the problem will be stated in the judge's ruling.If your complaint is dismissed with prejudice, you can't refile, so you may have to appeal the decision to an appellate court.The trial court's order will have to be reversed by the appellate court in order to allow you to file a new complaint.If the trial court did not act in accordance with the law, the appellate court will only rule in your favor.The appellate court will not rule in your favor if your case was validly dismissed with prejudice.