Federal courts also hear controversies between citizens of different states depending on the amount in controversy. Appeals from courts of general jurisdiction are taken to an appellate court, which in some states is known as the Court of Appeals. Appeals from appellate courts are taken to the highest state court, often called the Supreme Court. An adverse decision of a states highest court may be appealed to the federal courts on constitutional grounds. Every civil action is subject to a statute of limitations, that is, the period of time within which the lawsuit must be filed.
Statutes of limitation vary widely from state to state.
If a party delays filing his lawsuit beyond the time allowed by the statute of limitations it will probably be forever barred. The complaint or petition will let the court know whether it has jurisdiction over the particular case and will advise the defendant what he is being sued for. A copy of the lawsuit and a summons must be served on the defendant by the sheriff, process server, authorized service agent or under some circumstances, certified mail. The summons tells the defendant how long he has to respond to the lawsuit. If a defendant fails to respond within the appropriate time, generally approximately 20 days, a judgment may be entered by default.