Someone gets a lawyer, and the parties attempt to work it out. The summons must also be served per FRCP 4. That is, the defendant must be notified that a lawsuit has been started against her. Service can be effected personally, by mail, or through publication.
Service can be a real hurdle to overcome if it's hard to locate the defendant.
A motion to dismiss in effect admits the allegations in the complaint, but argues that even if the plaintiff could prove all those facts, he or she would still not be entitled to relief from the court. Motions to dismiss are important in the development of the law, because they give judges an opportunity to rule on whether a legal remedy will be available under a given set of facts. Motions are written or oral requests for the court's assistance. These papers are filed with the court clerk, and served on the lawyers for all other parties in the lawsuit. Oral motions may be made at trial and supported with written submissions or oral arguments.