PLD-PI-001 is the Judicial Council of California complaint form that a plaintiff uses to tell the Superior Court and the other side that a lawsuit based on personal injury, property damage or wrongful death is starting, and to state the general allegations against the defendants. It must have one or more causes of action attached. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the California courts at courts.ca.gov.
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What is PLD-PI-001?
COMPLAINT—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death (PLD-PI-001) is the Judicial Council of California pleading form that tells the court and the other side you are starting a lawsuit for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death, and sets out the general allegations you make against the defendants.
The form is a three-page caption and general-allegations pleading for a Superior Court of California case. It is not a complete complaint by itself: item 10 requires that one or more causes of action be attached, chosen from Motor Vehicle, General Negligence, Intentional Tort, Products Liability, Premises Liability or Other.
Its main parts are:
- the type of case (motor vehicle or other; property damage, personal injury, wrongful death, other damages);
- the jurisdiction boxes: limited civil case, unlimited civil case, or a case reclassified by an amended complaint;
- items 1 to 7: who the plaintiffs and defendants are, whether they are natural persons or other kinds of parties, Doe defendants, and defendants joined under Code of Civil Procedure section 382;
- items 8 and 9: why this court is the proper court and compliance with any claims statute;
- items 10 to 12: the causes of action, the damages suffered and, for wrongful death, the damages claimed and the plaintiff's relationship to the deceased;
- items 13 to 15: jurisdiction of the court, the prayer for judgment and the paragraphs alleged on information and belief.
The footer marks it "Form Approved for Optional Use" and cites Code of Civil Procedure, § 425.12. The revision printed on it is Rev. January 1, 2024.
Who needs to file PLD-PI-001?
Plaintiffs who are starting a lawsuit based on personal injury, property damage or wrongful death in a California Superior Court use this form, whether they are represented by an attorney or act without one. The top of the form has a block for the attorney or party without an attorney, and the signature line is for the plaintiff or the attorney.
Further conditions the form itself sets:
- Plaintiffs who are not competent adults, such as a corporation, an unincorporated entity, a public entity or a minor, are identified in item 3. Information about additional plaintiffs who are not competent adults goes in Attachment 3.
- Defendants that are not natural persons are identified in item 5. Information about additional ones goes in Attachment 5.
- A plaintiff who is required to comply with a claims statute states in item 9 whether the statute has been complied with or why the plaintiff is excused.
- A plaintiff suing for wrongful death completes item 12 with the damages claimed and the relationship to the deceased.
- A plaintiff filing an amended complaint marks the AMENDED (Number) box.
The form is approved for optional use, and every complaint filed on it must have at least one cause of action attached.
When to file PLD-PI-001
Use PLD-PI-001 when you are starting a lawsuit based on personal injury, property damage or wrongful death, because the form is the pleading that tells the court and the other side that the lawsuit is beginning. The form prints no filing deadline of its own.
If you are changing a complaint already filed, mark the AMENDED (Number) box and enter the amendment number. If the amended complaint moves the case from limited to unlimited or from unlimited to limited, mark the ACTION IS RECLASSIFIED by this amended complaint box and the direction of the change.
The cause of action attachments listed in item 10 must be ready when you file, since each complaint must have one or more attached. Time limits for suing are not stated on the form, so check them separately.
Documents you need
- At least one cause of action attachment, chosen from item 10: Motor Vehicle, General Negligence, Intentional Tort, Products Liability, Premises Liability or Other. Each complaint must have one or more attached.
- Attachment 3, only if there are additional plaintiffs who are not competent adults and their information does not fit in item 3.
- Attachment 5, only if there are additional defendants who are not natural persons and their information does not fit in item 5.
- Attachment 12, only if you choose to list the damages claimed for wrongful death and the plaintiff's relationship to the deceased there instead of writing them in item 12.b.
How to fill out PLD-PI-001
Complete the caption
Enter the attorney or party information at the top (name, State Bar number, firm, address, telephone, email, attorney for), then the county, court address, branch name, plaintiff and defendant names, and the Does range. Leave the case number and the court-use area to the court.
Mark the title boxes
If this is an amended complaint, check AMENDED (Number) and enter the number. Under Type, check all that apply: motor vehicle or other, property damage, personal injury, wrongful death or other damages.
Check the jurisdiction boxes
Check ACTION IS A LIMITED CIVIL CASE or ACTION IS AN UNLIMITED CIVIL CASE, and for a limited case the amount-demanded box that applies. Check the reclassified box and its direction only if the amended complaint changes the classification.
Name plaintiffs and page count
Item 1: enter the plaintiff names and the defendants against whom causes of action are alleged. Item 2: enter the total number of pages of the pleading, including attachments and exhibits.
Describe plaintiffs who are not adults
Item 3: leave it as is if each plaintiff is a competent adult. Otherwise name each exception plaintiff and check corporation, unincorporated entity, public entity, minor or adult, or other; use Attachment 3 for more.
Add fictitious business name
Item 4: if a plaintiff does business under a fictitious name, enter the plaintiff's name and the fictitious name, and check that the fictitious business name laws were complied with.
Describe defendants and Does
Item 5: name defendants that are not natural persons and check their type; use Attachment 5 for more. Item 6: give the Doe numbers for agents or employees (6.a) and for persons of unknown capacity (6.b). Item 7: list defendants joined under Code of Civil Procedure section 382.
State venue and claims statute
Item 8: check why this court is proper (a defendant resides there, a defendant's principal place of business is there, injury or damage occurred there, or other). Item 9: check that you complied with the claims statute, or state why you are excused.
Select causes of action and damages
Item 10: check each cause of action you attach (a through f). Item 11: check the damages suffered. Item 12, for wrongful death: refer to Attachment 12 or list the damages and relationships in 12.b.
Complete the prayer
Item 13 confirms the relief is within the court's jurisdiction. Item 14: check compensatory and/or punitive damages, and in 14.b check (1) according to proof (required in personal injury and wrongful death cases) or (2) enter an amount.
Add information and belief and sign
Item 15: list the paragraph numbers alleged on information and belief. Enter the date, type or print the name, and sign as plaintiff or attorney.
Review and download the PDF
Check all three pages and the attached causes of action against each other. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and file it with the court as described under How to submit.
How to submit PLD-PI-001
The form names no filing channel, address or portal. It is addressed to a Superior Court of California, and the caption asks you to write the county, the court's street address, mailing address, city and ZIP code, and the branch name. File the completed complaint with that court, using the filing methods the court itself offers, and ask the court clerk for them if you are unsure.
Before filing, assemble the pages of the complaint, including the cause of action attachments required by item 10 and any Attachment 3, 5 or 12 you use. Item 2 asks for the total number of pages of the pleading, including attachments and exhibits.
The form's footer tells you to press the Clear This Form button after printing it, for your privacy. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the court's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing the form with no cause of action attached; item 10 says each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached.
- Leaving item 14.b(1), "according to proof," unchecked in a personal injury or wrongful death case; the form says you must check (1) in those cases.
- Not marking any box under Jurisdiction, or marking the wrong one, instead of choosing limited civil case, unlimited civil case or reclassified.
- Filing an amended complaint without marking the AMENDED (Number) box and entering the number.
- Entering the wrong total in item 2; it must count the pleading including attachments and exhibits.
- Describing a corporation, public entity or minor plaintiff as a competent adult instead of using the exceptions in item 3.
- Leaving the signature line blank; the form is signed by the plaintiff or the attorney, with the name typed or printed.
- Listing wrongful death damages and relationships in neither Attachment 12 nor the space in item 12.b.
Frequently asked questions
What is PLD-PI-001?
PLD-PI-001 is the Judicial Council of California's COMPLAINT—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death. It tells the court and the other side that you are starting a lawsuit and states your general allegations. It must have one or more causes of action attached.
Can I fill out the PLD-PI-001 form online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the complaint with any court; you file it through the channels the court offers.
Do I have to attach a cause of action to PLD-PI-001?
Yes. Item 10 says each complaint must have one or more causes of action attached. The form lists Motor Vehicle, General Negligence, Intentional Tort, Products Liability, Premises Liability and Other; check each one you attach.
What do I check in item 14.b for a personal injury case?
Check (1), "according to proof." The form says that in cases for personal injury or wrongful death you must check (1). Item 14.b(2), a specific amount, is the alternative for other cases.
What if there are more plaintiffs or defendants than the form has room for?
Use the attachments the form names. Information about additional plaintiffs who are not competent adults is shown in Attachment 3, and information about additional defendants who are not natural persons is in Attachment 5.
Is PLD-PI-001 mandatory?
The form's footer reads "Form Approved for Optional Use" and cites Code of Civil Procedure, § 425.12. The Judicial Council has approved it for optional use, so its use is not stated to be required.
How do I file an amended complaint on PLD-PI-001?
Check the AMENDED (Number) box at the top and enter the amendment number. If the amendment changes the case from limited to unlimited, or the reverse, also check the reclassified box and the direction of the change.
Who signs the complaint?
The plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney signs at the end of the form, above the line labeled "Signature of plaintiff or attorney," with the name typed or printed and the date entered.
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