1 Michigan Civil Procedure Litigation Manual § 2.110-1

Summary

Rule 2.110 implements Michigan’s unique pleading scheme. It differs from the pleading systems employed by other jurisdictions in that it treats each claim made in an action as a distinct pleading. Although this causes a myriad of conceptual problems, the practice of pleading counterclaims separate from answers, for example, has virtually disappeared and may possibly be prohibited under MCR 2.203(E). Rule 2.110 should be read in conjunction with a number of Rules, including MCR 2.201(A), which specifies the proper denomination of the parties in an action, and MCR 2.203, which governs compulsory claims, permissive claims, cross-claims, and somewhat tangentially, counterclaims.

Rule 2.110 specifies the pleadings that must be filed in any action. If claims are made by the plaintiff only, with no additional counterclaims, cross-claims, or third-party claims, the pleadings are limited to the complaint and an answer. Additional pleadings will be required if other claims are ...