Unlimited civil auto accident case in California

[psujan01]

California. Can plaintiff file a response in civil court after defendant's answer to original complaint has been received? Or, does the California civil process automatically default to discovery phase instead?

 

[quincy]

California. Can plaintiff file a response in civil court after defendant's answer to original complaint has been received? Or, does the California civil process automatically default to discovery phase instead?

You respond to the defendant's answer to the complaint in court (or in settlement talks).

 

[Taxing Matters]

California. Can plaintiff file a response in civil court after defendant's answer to original complaint has been received? Or, does the California civil process automatically default to discovery phase instead?

The complaint and the answer (the pleadings) set out the parties' positions on the issues in the case. The plaintiff alleges certain things and the defendant either admits or denies them. The plaintiff does not rebut the denials with another pleading. If, however, the defendant responds with a counter-claim (which is essentially another complaint asserting that the defendant has a claim against the plaintiff) then the plaintiff would file an answer to the counter claim.