Spain v. Brown

In a civil action the issues to be tried by a jury are raised by written pleadings filed in the cause by the parties to the action. Ordinarily these consist of a complaint and answer. When, however, the defendant in his answer pleads new matter as a setoff, affirmative defense, or counterclaim, the plaintiff is permitted to file a further pleading known as a reply to admit or deny the new matter alleged in the answer and, when necessary, plead matters in avoidance of the same.

Each pleading has its own particular function. The function of the complaint is to present a statement of the…