What is the test for an answer to a complaint?

Hoelzle v. Fresno County, 159 Cal.App.2d 478, 324 P.2d 74, demonstrates the post-1927 judicial philosophy of liberal construction of answers to complaints. Hoelzle involved a plaintiff's personal injury action seeking damages for the wrongful death of a spouse allegedly caused by the "dangerous and defective condition" of the defendant county's public road and bridge. (Id. at p. 480, 324 P.2d 74.) Defendant, in its answer, stated only that it "denies generally and specifically, each and every, all and singular the allegations of said complaint." (Id.) After a judgment for defendant, plaintiff, like plaintiffs here, appealed, arguing "that the answer admitted the truth of all of the allegations of the complaint, since it did not specifically deny those allegations . . ." (Id. at p. 482, 324 P.2d at p. 76.)