Contents of complaint; issuance and service of summons; temporary writ of restitution; notice, hearing and bond.
1. The plaintiff in his complaint, which shall be in writing, must set forth the facts on which he seeks to recover, and describe the premises with reasonable certainty and may set forth therein any circumstances of fraud, force or violence which may have accompanied the alleged forcible entry, or forcible or unlawful detainer, and claim damages therefor, or compensation for the occupation of the premises or both. In case the unlawful detainer charged be after default in the payment of rent, the complaint must state the amount of such rent.
2. The summons shall be issued and served as in other cases, but the court, judge or justice of the peace may shorten the time within which the defendant shall be required to appear and defend the action, in which case the officer or person serving the summons shall change the prescribed form thereof to conform to the time of service as ordered; but where publication is necessary the court shall direct publication for a period of not less than 1 week.
3. At any time after the filing of the complaint and issuance of summons, the court, upon application therefor, may issue a temporary writ of restitution; provided:
(a) That the temporary writ of restitution shall not issue ex parte but only after the issuance and service of an order to show cause why a temporary writ of restitution shall not be issued and after the defendant has been given an opportunity to oppose the issuance of the temporary writ of restitution.
(b) That the temporary writ of restitution shall not issue until the court has had an opportunity to ascertain the facts sufficiently to enable it to estimate the probable loss to the defendant and fix the amount of a bond to indemnify the party or parties against whom the temporary writ may be issued.
(c) That the temporary writ of restitution shall not issue until there has been filed with the approval of the court a good and sufficient bond of indemnification in the amount fixed by the court.
Last modified: February 27, 2006