Legal Definitions - defective pleading

Defective pleading refers to a formal document in which a party to a legal proceeding sets forth or responds to allegations, claims, denials, or defenses, but fails to meet minimum standards of sufficiency or accuracy in form or substance.

For example, a plaintiff's complaint that lacks specific details or fails to state a valid legal claim would be considered a defective pleading. Similarly, a defendant's answer that does not respond to all of the allegations in the complaint or raises irrelevant defenses would also be defective.

Defective pleadings can lead to dismissal of a case or other sanctions, as they do not provide the necessary information for the court to make a decision on the merits of the case.