An administrative process which exists to achieve those objectives has resulted in an administrative process differing in several significant ways from circuit court proceedings. Pleadings Pleadings are far less complex in the administrative forum than in circuit court. In a circuit court proceeding, the pleadings are extensive and critical to a party's success. A pleading seeking affirmative relief must allege a cause of action. There are numerous causes of action, and every cause of action has several elements determined by substantive law.
Specific allegations are subject to specific rules of pleading.
4 Counterclaims, crossclaims, and third-party complaints are all permitted and common. A defendant who does not respond to a complaint automatically loses and, after the entry of a default, will have a judgment entered against him. The pleadings of a private party in the administrative forum must only identify how the petitioner's substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination, explain the disputed issues of material fact, identify the rules and statutes that entitle the petitioner to relief, and request either an evidentiary hearing or a nonevidentiary hearing. In all proceedings except for licensure disciplinary proceedings, the petition requesting a hearing is the initial, and often the only, pleading. Agencies may but often do not file a responsive pleading.