STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT
[__] COUNTY DOCKET NO. CV-[YYYY-____]

[PLAINTIFF NAME(S)],
Plaintiff(s),

v.

[DEFENDANT NAME(S)],
Defendant(s).
______/

DEFENDANT’S ANSWER AND GENERAL DENIAL
TO PLAINTIFF’S [COMPLAINT/COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND]

[// GUIDANCE: Verify caption, docket number, and court for accuracy before filing. A separate answer must be filed for each defendant unless joint representation is confirmed.]

1. GENERAL DENIAL
   Pursuant to Me. R. Civ. P. 8(b) & 11, Defendant [DEFENDANT NAME] (“Defendant”) denies each and every material allegation, claim, and purported cause of action set forth in Plaintiff’s Complaint except as expressly admitted herein. All allegations not specifically admitted are hereby denied.

2. SPECIFIC RESPONSES
   [// GUIDANCE: Use this section only if the Court requires paragraph-by-paragraph responses or if strategic admissions are appropriate. Otherwise the general denial in Section 1 generally suffices under Maine practice.]
   a. Paragraph 1: [ADMIT / DENY / LACK KNOWLEDGE – INSERT]
   b. Paragraph 2: [ADMIT / DENY / LACK KNOWLEDGE – INSERT]
   …
   z. Paragraph [__]: [ADMIT / DENY / LACK KNOWLEDGE – INSERT]

3. AFFIRMATIVE AND OTHER DEFENSES
   Without conceding any burden of proof, Defendant asserts the following defenses under Me. R. Civ. P. 8(c) and reserves the right to amend or supplement these defenses as discovery proceeds:

3.1 Failure to State a Claim (Me. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)).
3.2 Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (Me. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2)).
3.3 Insufficiency of Process / Service of Process (Me. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(4)–(5)).
3.4 Statute of Limitations.
3.5 Comparative or Contributory Negligence (14 M.R.S. § 156 et seq.).
3.6 Accord and Satisfaction / Payment.
3.7 Estoppel, Waiver, and Laches.
3.8 Release or Discharge.
3.9 Failure to Mitigate Damages.
3.10 Unclean Hands.
3.11 Reservation of Additional Defenses.
[// GUIDANCE: Delete defenses that clearly do not apply; add any others germane to the facts. A defense omitted here may be waived.]

4. COUNTERCLAIMS, CROSS-CLAIMS, AND THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS (IF ANY)
   [Optional Section — leave blank or “None at this time.”]
   a. Counterclaim Count I – [BREACH OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, ETC.]
   i. Parties.
   ii. Jurisdiction & Venue.
   iii. Facts Common to All Counts.
   iv. Cause of Action.
   v. Prayer for Relief.
   [// GUIDANCE: Under Me. R. Civ. P. 13(a) compulsory counterclaims arising out of the same transaction/occurrence MUST be pleaded now or are thereafter barred. Permissive counterclaims under Rule 13(b) may also be asserted.]

5. PRAYER FOR RELIEF
   WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests that this Court:
   A. Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint with prejudice;
   B. Enter judgment in favor of Defendant on all claims;
   C. Award Defendant its costs, reasonable attorney fees, and such further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

6. JURY DEMAND (OPTIONAL)
   Defendant hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable as of right pursuant to Me. R. Civ. P. 38(b).
   [// GUIDANCE: Omit if a jury is not desired or if the applicable contract contains an enforceable jury-trial waiver.]

7. RESERVATION TO AMEND
   Defendant reserves the right to amend this Answer to add, modify, or withdraw defenses and claims as investigation and discovery may warrant, consistent with Me. R. Civ. P. 15.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on this ___ day of _ 20, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing Defendant’s Answer and General Denial to be served upon counsel of record for Plaintiff via [ U.S. Mail / State of Maine e-Filing Service / Hand Delivery / Other ].

[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.
Bar No. [____]
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]
Counsel for Defendant

[// GUIDANCE: Maine’s eFiling program is statewide; confirm service method complies with Me. R. Civ. P. 5(b) & Maine eCourts Rules. A proof of service must accompany the filing.]

IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL NOTE
• Filing Deadline: An Answer must be served within 21 days after service of summons and complaint. Me. R. Civ. P. 12(a).
• Form: Maine courts accept pleadings in 8½″ × 11″ format, double-spaced, with numbered paragraphs and page numbers.
• Signature: Every pleading must be signed by at least one attorney of record in compliance with Me. R. Civ. P. 11(a).
[// GUIDANCE: Calendar the 21-day deadline immediately upon service. Failure to file a timely answer may result in default judgment under Me. R. Civ. P. 55.]