Which of the following is NOT a possible outcome of a defendant's answer?

• A. Declaring the case a criminal matter
• B. Dismissing the case
• C. A judgment for the plaintiff may be entered
• D. A counterclaim may be raised

Answer: (A)

In civil procedure, the defendant’s answer is the response to the plaintiff’s complaint. It addresses the allegations by admitting or denying them, and it can raise defenses and even a counterclaim within the same case. Because of that, turning the matter into a criminal case isn’t something an answer does. Criminal matters are brought by the government and handled through separate criminal proceedings, not through a civil defendant’s answer.

So, declaring the case a criminal matter isn’t a possible outcome of an answer. The other outcomes—dismissal of the case, a judgment for the plaintiff may be entered, and a counterclaim may be raised—are all valid possibilities in civil practice.