Notwithstanding any provision of law, in any cause of action based on tort, contract law, or otherwise to recover damages for injury or death to the person or for harm to the plaintiff resulting from the defendant's wrongful conduct, no complaint or cross-complaint shall specify the amount of damages but shall contain a prayer for general relief and shall state that the damages are within the jurisdictional limits of the court to which the pleading is addressed. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a party from asking for a specific amount of damages at the trial.