Which is a permissible pleading type in New York civil practice?

• A. A motion to dismiss
• B. A complaint and answer
• C. A summary judgment brief
• D. A notice of appeal

Answer: (B)

In New York civil practice, the pleading stage consists of the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendant’s answer, which together initiate and respond to the action. The chosen option reflects this dynamic by representing the actual pleadings that start and shape the case.

A motion to dismiss is a pre-answer procedural step, not a pleading. A summary judgment brief is part of a motion packet supporting a request for summary judgment, not a pleading itself. A notice of appeal is an appellate filing used after a final judgment to challenge the result, not a pleading filed in the trial court.