New legislation, effective Oct. 1, changes time period for service of a responsive pleading

Our State Bar reminds us,

Act 442 [4 pp. pdf] provides that a responsive pleading must be made within 20 days, except that a 45-day period applies in the following cases: 1) The defendant is the state or an officer, agent, employee or agency of the state; or 2) The defendant in an action is an insurance company or the complaint alleges that a tort occurred.