AI Prompts 8: Responding If You're Sued

Part 8 of 8 in the AI prompt guide. If you've been served, the clock may be running. AI can help you understand the claim and organize your response. Check your court's rules for any deadline to respond or file a counterclaim. Guide: what to do if you're sued.

Copy a prompt, replace every [bracket] with your own facts, and paste it into the AI tool you use.

Use AI safely

• AI can be wrong. It can state rules that don't exist or invent court cases. Check every rule, deadline and form with your court or your state page.
• Keep private details out. Don't paste account numbers, Social Security numbers, birth dates, or other people's full addresses and phone numbers. Use placeholders like [ADDRESS].
• Read before you use it. Never file, send or read aloud AI-written text you haven't read and checked line by line. You're responsible for what you submit.
• Facts come from you. If the AI adds a fact you didn't give it, delete it.

Sample prompts

Understand the claim

Here's the claim filed against me (personal details removed). Explain in plain words what they say happened, what they're asking for, and the key dates listed. Don't guess at anything not written there.

Claim:
[paste]

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Rules, deadlines, fees and forms vary by state and court. Check your court's rules or self-help center before you act.

In the Playbook (members):

• My side, as a timeline
• Where do we agree and disagree?
• Do I have a counterclaim?
• Defendant response for the hearing