Get Pld-050 General Denial

Tells the court and other side that you challenge the Complaint in a civil case, and demand that each allegation be proven. Also provides space to describe your defenses.

Filing a General Denial: You may use a General Denial form if the complaint is not verified or the complaint is not verified and the case is a limited civil case ($25,000.00 or less) BUT NOT if the complaint involves a claim for more than $1,000.00 that has been assigned to a third party for collection.

Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §431.30(d), Defendant, Cross-defendant hereby generally denies each and every allegation set forth in the Complaint and Cross- complaint(s), and the whole thereof, and further denies that Plaintiff and/or Cross-complainant(s) are entitled to any relief against Defendant, Cross- ...

n. a statement in the defendant's answer to a complaint in a lawsuit that an allegation (claim of fact) is not true. If a defendant denies all allegations it is called a general denial. In answering, the defendant is limited to admitting, denying or denying on the basis he/she/it has no information to affirm or deny.

You may only submit a general denial if the complaint was not verified, or if it is a "limited civil case," meaning the amount in controversy is $25,000 or less. Otherwise, an answer is the more appropriate response. California Courts provide Form PLD-050 for general denials.

There are two main ways to serve this General Denial: by personal delivery or by mail. It may be served by anyone at least 18 years of age EXCEPT you or any other party to this legal action. Be sure that whoever serves the General Denial fills out and signs a proof of service.

As the name implies, a general denial means that you are generally denying all the claims in the complaint, without going line by line and admitting or denying each statement.

If the defendant denies all the allegations in a complaint, it is a general denial. On the other hand, it is a specific denial if the defendant does not deny all the allegations but instead either specifically denies designated allegations or generally denies all except the ones specifically admitted.

The most common form of answer is a “general denial,” in which a defendant “generally denies all the allegations in the plaintiff's petition.” However, this is not always the most appropriate response, and sometimes it can be advantageous to agree with some or even all the facts alleged by the plaintiff.