Legal Definitions - motion for more definite statement

A motion for more definite statement is a request made by a party to the court, asking the opponent to clarify a vague or ambiguous pleading. This motion is filed when the party cannot reasonably respond to the pleading due to its lack of clarity.

For example, if a plaintiff files a complaint that is too vague for the defendant to understand, the defendant can file a motion for more definite statement. The defendant can ask the court to require the plaintiff to amend the complaint and provide more specific details.

However, this motion is not always granted. The court will only grant the motion if the pleading is so unclear that the opponent cannot reasonably be required to respond. If the pleading is clear enough for the opponent to reply, the motion will be denied.

It is important to note that this motion should not be used to force the plaintiff to include additional details that may make the complaint vulnerable to a motion to dismiss.

Overall, a motion for more definite statement is a tool used to ensure that both parties have a clear understanding of the issues at hand and can respond accordingly.