This sample answer to a civil complaint in United States District Court is designed to be used by a Defendant in civil litigation in United States District Court. The sample can be modified and used in ANY United States District Court, it includes a demand for a jury trial, brief instructions, several generic affirmative defenses and a proof of service by mail.

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Any Party
Any Street
Any Town, CA 55555
714-555-5555
Defendant, Pro se
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
________ DISTRICT OF _____________
Any Plaintiff,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Any Defendant, and DOES 1-5
Defendants.
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Case No.
ANSWER OF DEFENDANT ________ TO
COMPLAINT OF PLAINTIFF___________
[DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL]
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Defendant, __________, answers the complaint of Plaintiff, ________________ as follows:
1. Defendant admits the allegations in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
2. Defendant denies the allegations in paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
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ANSWER TO COMPLAINT

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3. Defendant has not information or belief that the allegations in paragraph 13 are true so
Defendant denies them.
4. Defendant denies the allegations in paragraph 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,
52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61.
5. Except as expressly admitted herein, Defendant denies all of the allegations of the
complaint.
If you know that everything in a particular paragraph is
false then deny it. If you have no knowledge whether a
particular paragraph is true, then deny it on information and
belief as shown in paragraph 3 above. Remember that
anything that you do not specifically deny will be considered
admitted and that you should admit or deny every paragraph.
FURTHER, AS SEPARATE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES to each and every claim for relief
of the complaint, this Answering Defendant is informed and believes, and on such information and
belief alleges as follows:
Be sure to include some details in your affirmative
defenses, in other words state enough facts so that you state a
sufficient defense. Do NOT just use the affirmative defenses
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ANSWER TO COMPLAINT

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here without adding in some details, for example only, a
statement such as: “On or about, plaintiff and I agreed that I
would pay them the sum of $____ as full and complete
reimbursement. I paid plaintiff that sum on or about____,
which constitutes an accord and satisfaction” but use the facts
from your situation.
FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE
6. As a First and Separate Affirmative Defense, this Answering Defendant alleges that the
Plaintiff’s complaint and each claim for relief contained therein fails to state facts sufficient to state a
claim against this Answering Defendant.
SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE
7. As a Second and Separate Affirmative Defense to the complaint and each claim for relief
contained therein, this Answering Defendant alleges the doctrine of accord and satisfaction, and as a
result Plaintiff is estopped from raising any claims against this Answering Defendant.
THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE
8. As a Third and Separate Affirmative Defense to the complaint and each claim for relief
contained therein, this Answering Defendant alleges the doctrine of assumption of risk, and as a
result Plaintiff is estopped from raising any claims against this Answering Defendant.
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ANSWER TO COMPLAINT

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To purchase the entire sample shown here visit
http://www.scribd.com/doc/135536451/Sample-Answer-to-Civil-
Complaint-in-United-States-District
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ANSWER TO COMPLAINT