Motion To Dismiss Brief Example

If you go to court, the judge will tell you when you need to file your Answer. It will usually be 10 days from your court date. In lawsuits for more than $50,000, the Summons will state that you must file an appearance within 30 days after the day you are served.

If a defendant has pleaded a counterclaim before being served with the plaintiff's motion to dismiss, the action may be dismissed over the defendant's objection only if the counterclaim can remain pending for independent adjudication.

735 ILCS 5/2-608 (emphasis added). In contrast, an affirmative defense is a defense that, if proven, would mitigate or eradicate the defendant's negligent conduct alleged in the complaint. An affirmative defense is not a separate cause of action.

N. application by a defendant in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution asking the judge to rule that the plaintiff (the party who filed the lawsuit) or the prosecution has not and cannot prove its case.

Typically, the losing party may appeal after the court has delivered its final judgment. In addition to appealing the final decision, the appellant can also appeal earlier rulings that were not definitive when they were issued.

A denial or failure of proof defense focuses on the elements of the crime and prevents the prosecution from meeting its burden of proof. An affirmative defense is a defense that raises an issue separate from the elements of the crime.

A motion to dismiss (aka demurrer in some states) is a powerful litigation tool that can stop a lawsuit cold in its tracks. When granting a motion to dismiss, the judge essentially decides the case in the defendant's favor most often denying the plaintiff the opportunity to go to trial.

Illinois is a fact-pleading state; conclusions of law and conclusory allegations unsupported by specific facts are not sufficient to survive dismissal.