#answer.pleading  the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
  supertype:  pleading  (law) an allegation in legal form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
  subtype:  evasive_answer__evasiveanswer  (law) an answer by a defendant that fails to admit or deny the allegations set forth in the complaint
  subtype:  nolo_contendere__non_vult__nonvult  (criminal law) an answer of `no contest' by a defendant who does not admit guilt but that subjects him to conviction
  subtype:  plea.answer  (law) a defendant's answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer)
     subtype:  dilatory_plea  a plea that delays the action without settling the cause of action; it can challenge the jurisdiction or claim disability of the defendant etc. (such defenses are usually raised in the defendant's answer)
     subtype:  insanity_plea__plea_of_insanity  (criminal law) a plea in which the defendant claims innocence due to mental incompetence at the time

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