Which statement describes the function of statements of case in civil litigation?

• A. To appoint a judge.
• B. To set out the facts, legal claims, and remedies sought; define the issues to be decided at trial.
• C. To grant summary judgment automatically.
• D. To record financial damages.

Answer: (B)

In civil litigation, statements of case are used to lay out the claim and shape the issues for trial. They set out the facts on which the claim is based, the legal basis for those claims, and the remedies being sought, so everyone knows what is being claimed and what must be proven. This document also defines the issues to be decided at trial, which helps the court and the opposing party understand where the disputes lie and what evidence will be needed. Because of this, statements of case guide case management, disclosure, and the overall flow of the action, including what needs to be clarified or narrowed before trial.

The other options don’t fit this role. Appointing a judge is a function of the judiciary, not the statement of case. Summary judgment is a separate procedural step that can be sought when there is no real prospect of success; it does not occur automatically from filing a statement of case. Recording financial damages is not the primary purpose; damages are a remedy claimed within the case, but the core purpose of the statements is to set out the claim, the facts, the legal basis, and the issues for trial.