How does a person or company begin a civil case against a other party?

To begin a civil case, a person or company must file a complaint or petition with the appropriate court, detailing the claims against the other party and the relief sought. This document is then served to the defendant, who must respond within a specified timeframe. The plaintiff may also need to pay a filing fee and comply with local court rules. Once the case is initiated, the parties may engage in discovery and other pre-trial processes before potentially proceeding to trial.