What pleadings may the court consider in ruling on Rule 12(b)(6) motions?

• A. only the complaint
• B. the complaint and exhibits
• C. the complaint and answers
• D. the complaint and motion to strike

Answer: (A)

Rule 12(b)(6) motions test the sufficiency of the plaintiff’s claim on the face of the complaint. At this stage the court’s review is limited to the pleading that starts the action, focusing on whether the complaint itself states a plausible claim. The defendant’s answer and other pleadings aren’t part of that initial assessment, and extraneous documents are generally not weighed unless they’re properly incorporated into the complaint. Therefore, the pleading the court can consider in ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is the complaint alone.