Once a complaint and summons have been served on the defendant, settlement negotiations must stop.
In a federal court action, a general denial challenges the subject matter jurisdiction of the court.
If the defendant has an affirmative defense to a claim, it must be alleged in the answer or it may be waived.
A copy of the answer must be personally served on the plaintiff.
A cross-claim is generally allowed when a claim by one defendant against another named defendant arises out of the same transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the complaint.
A third-party complaint, unlike the cross-claim and counterclaim, is a separate pleading.
All allegations in a counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party complaint are deemed denied and need not be responded to.
If a defendant in a lawsuit fails to object to the subject matter of the court prior ...