[header] How to defend yourself in a defamation claim [title] Read the complaint. [step] A plaintiff starts a lawsuit by filing a complaint in court. You will be sent a copy along with a summons.
[header] How to defend yourself in a defamation claim [title] Read the complaint. [step] A plaintiff starts a lawsuit by filing a complaint in court. You will be sent a copy along with a summons.
You should read the complaint and find out what statement the plaintiff believes is defamatory. [substeps] Also note the deadline for responding to the claim. You can find the summons by reaching out to the court clerk. The summons identifies the parties and specifically describes the facts of the case and the filing method. Read the complaint as soon as possible after it has been filed. [substeps] The complaint identifies you as the plaintiff and the other party as the defendant. Once you receive the summons, you can go to court to defend yourself in the lawsuit. [substeps] You can read the complaint by hand if you like.