Living in AZ, what to do with a MI summons?

[gahachino]

I lived in MI and owned a car (with a co signer), which I decided to sell to my sister. During the sale process, an elderly pedestrian ran into the back of the car and fell down, outside of the crosswalk. A police report was filed, and no ticket was issued to my sister. An eyewitness told the police that the pedestrian had done such a thing before. The car sale fell through, and I ended up taking back responsibility for the car.

Three years later, the pedestrian has died (of natural causes), and now one of her children is suing my sister and I (as well as my co signer) on behalf of her estate for emotional damages and suffering due to the accident that the pedestrian supposedly underwent when she was alive.

My sister's insurance company can only be held liable for $20,000 worth of damages, and the co signer's insurance company can only be held liable for $50,000.

I was served with a summons asking me various questions about what sort of coverage I had through insurance policies - and the answer is none. Since I was selling the car, I had no reason to keep it insured. I called the plaintiff's law office and questioned my responsibility with the summons, and I got the runaround. They suggested I retain a MI lawyer to the tune of $2,500. I asked why that would be necessary, and I got some hems and haws and was told that it would ensure that copies of my answer to the summons would reach all of the necessary parties.

My questions:
1. Is it really necessary for me to retain a lawyer just to send these copies?
2. Would this be the definition of a frivolous lawsuit?
3. When I answer the summons, does it have to be sent certified mail, notarized, or anything else like that?
4. Legally, who should get copies of the answer to the summons? The court? The plaintiff's lawyer? All lawyers involved?


Thanks in advance,
Jen

 

[HomeGuru]

Just from the questions that you have asked, it is clear that you need an attorney.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

In addition to the above suggestion, please tell us the EXACT date of the accident and the EXACT date that the Complaint was filed with the court.

IAAL

 

[HomeGuru]

Yes, and please be exact.

 

[gahachino]

date of accident: January 30, 1999
date of complaint: April 09, 2001
date of summons: June 11, 2001 (delivered to me 08.08.01)




Unfortunately, I don't have the means to hire an out of state attorney at this point, and I have 21 days to respond to this summons.

On the summons itself, it states that I must file an answer with the court and with the "other party." I assume the other party would be the lawyer for the plaintiff.

My questions came up not because I did not understand the summons, but because of the runaround I was given by the plaintiff's lawyer. He told me I would have to send notice to all legal parties involved, and implied that this would be a complex procedure which would require a law degree.

I do not want to have to retain an attorney.
I feel that this is a ridiculous lawsuit, and that it will not last 5 minutes with a jury.

Is it legally required for me to send the answers to the summons to anyone other than who is listed on the summons itself? I realize this sounds like a brain dead question, but I would rather ask and feel like an ass than not ask and end up paying for it.