Which statement about pleadings that state a claim for relief is accurate?

• A. They are pleadings that include a claim
• B. They are motions
• C. They respond to a claim
• D. They have no factual basis

Answer: (A)

The initiating pleading that states a claim for relief is the complaint. This document starts the civil action by laying out the facts the plaintiff relies on and the legal theories that entitle them to a remedy, and it specifies the relief sought (such as damages or an injunction). That is precisely what a pleading that states a claim for relief is designed to do: include the claim for which the court could grant relief.

A motion, by contrast, is a request for the court to take a specific action and does not itself assert a claim for relief against another party. A response is how the other side replies to the complaint, typically containing defenses or admissions, rather than introducing a new claim. And while a complaint must plead facts showing entitlement to relief, stating there is no factual basis would undermine the purpose of pleading, which is to present a plausible claim.