Legal Definitions - general denial

A general denial is a formal legal response made by a party in a lawsuit, most often a defendant, when they wish to dispute all the claims or allegations made against them in the opposing party's written statement (such as a complaint). Instead of responding to each specific point individually, the party issues a single, broad statement denying every assertion. This signifies that the party genuinely believes none of the allegations are true, or that they lack sufficient information to either admit or deny them, thereby putting all aspects of the opposing party's case into dispute and requiring them to prove every element of their claim.

• Example 1: Business Contract Dispute
  A small marketing agency is sued by a former client who claims the agency failed to deliver on multiple aspects of a service contract, resulting in significant financial losses. The marketing agency, however, believes it fully performed its obligations and that the client's claims are entirely baseless. In its formal response to the lawsuit, the agency's attorney files a general denial, stating that it denies all allegations in the client's complaint. This action immediately challenges every single claim made by the client, forcing them to present evidence for each alleged breach and loss.
• Example 2: Automobile Accident Claim
  Following a minor fender-bender, one driver sues the other, claiming negligence, property damage, and personal injury. The defendant driver, however, firmly believes they were not at fault, that the damage to the plaintiff's car was pre-existing, and that no injury occurred. Rather than admitting or denying each specific detail about the accident, the defendant's lawyer submits a general denial. This blanket denial indicates that the defendant disputes every assertion made by the plaintiff, from the cause of the accident to the extent of the damages and injuries, requiring the plaintiff to prove each element of their case.
• Example 3: Debt Collection Lawsuit
  An individual receives a lawsuit from a debt collection company claiming they owe a substantial amount for an old credit card debt. The individual believes they either never incurred the debt, already paid it off years ago, or that the statute of limitations has expired, making the claim legally unenforceable. To challenge the entire basis of the lawsuit, the individual's attorney files a general denial. This response puts into dispute every claim by the debt collector, including the existence of the debt, the amount owed, and the individual's responsibility for it, compelling the collection company to provide full proof of their allegations.