The plaintiff may join all persons as defendants who he thinks are necessary for a complete determination of the dispute. If you bring a legal action against someone, you are the plaintiff. If someone brings an action against you , you are the defendant. The selection of a court for litigation involves at the same time the question of jurisdiction as well as of venue. Venue statues will point to only one court for each case.
Most cases require the actual service of summons upon the defendant.
In a few cases, however, service of summons can be effected by publishing a notice in a newspaper. A pleading is a legal document filed with the court that sets forth the position and contentions of a party. The purpose of the pleadings is to inform the court of the contentions of each party. Justice requires that judgment be based on the merits of the case. A dissatisfied party is entitled to have the judgement reviewed by the higher court.