While the purpose of a plaintiff’s petition or complaint is to inform the court and the defendant of what the plaintiff’s claims will be at trial, the purpose of special exceptions is to force clarification and specification in the pleadings when they are not clear, or sufficiently specific, or fail to plead a cause of action.
In Missouri, the legal process allows for a plaintiff to file a petition or complaint to initiate a lawsuit, which outlines the basis of the plaintiff's claims against the defendant. This document serves to inform both the court and the defendant of the issues that will be addressed at trial. If the defendant believes that the plaintiff's petition is vague, ambiguous, or legally insufficient, they may file a motion for a more definite statement, which is governed by Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 55.27(g). This motion requests the court to compel the plaintiff to clarify or specify the allegations so that the defendant can adequately respond. The purpose of this procedural tool is to ensure that the pleadings are clear and detailed enough to allow the parties to prepare for trial. If the court grants the motion, the plaintiff must file an amended petition that corrects the deficiencies. Failure to comply with the court's order may result in sanctions, including potentially dismissal of the case.