You’ve been served. Now what?
In Minnesota, being served with a Summons and Complaint is the beginning of a lawsuit in many cases. It is very important to know that in general you have 20 days to provide an Answer. The Answer needs to be individually responsive to each and every paragraph of the Complaint including the “facts”. If you fail to respond to the Summons and Complaint within the time limit, it is likely that you have waived your right to Answer and therefore you agree with the allegations brought against you in the Complaint. This can be a harsh result. Don’t take that chance!
If you have been served with a Summons and Complaint, this is definitely one time when you need to call an attorney right away and not wait until 19 days after you have been served like I have seen numerous times. You specifically should locate an attorney who is experienced in litigation (civil and commercial lawsuits). Many attorneys do little or no work in litigation but it is in your best interest to understand the rules surrounding when and how to respond to a Summons and Complaint so find someone who has familiarity with how to respond. There are many options in terms of your rights that you might not have considered and this can be a tricky area of the law to go it alone or with little information.
