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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 849.32

  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
The summons in any such suit, and copies of all pleadings and notices of all hearings in the suit, and notice of the trial and of application for the entry of final judgment, shall be served on the state attorney, whose duty it shall be to protect the interests of the state and, if the plaintiff fails to diligently prosecute the suit, to bring such failure to the attention of the court. If the plaintiff fails to effectively prosecute any such suit without collusion or deceit and without unnecessary delay, the court shall direct the state attorney to proceed with the action. No such suit shall be dismissed except upon a sworn statement filed by the plaintiff or the state attorney which satisfies the court that the suit should be dismissed.