If you receive notice of a lawsuit, you must answer the suit within the specific time period. These time periods are typically very short. If you fail to answer the suit within the appropriate period, this causes you to default, and you may lose the case. It becomes much more expensive to reverse a default judgment, so timing is key. Once you answered the suit, the discovery portion of the case begins. During this phase, either side can ask questions of the other side regarding the case.