[header] How to defend yourself in a dog bite lawsuit [title] Read the complaint and summons. [step] The complaint and summons include details about the plaintiff's allegations as well as important dates and deadlines you need to know. [substeps] The summons gives you the name and contact information of the person who sued you, and also tells you how long you have to respond. 
Typically you must file an answer within 30 days or less of the date you receive the complaint, or the plaintiff may win by default. If the complaint includes any references to particular state laws, write them down so you can look them up later.