What is Civil Litigation?
Civil litigation is the process members of the community use to officially resolve disputes through the court system. Individuals are granted the right through civil law to sue for compensation or for specific action. This includes matters, such as breach of contract, negligence, and defamation.
When is it possible to sue someone?
You may be eligible to open a lawsuit against another individual, if you feel that you have been wronged by them. Our lawyers deal with a variety of disputes commonly dealt with under civil law, including disputes between:
• Customers and Suppliers
• Neighbors
• Landlords and Tenants
• Business Partners
• Buyers and Sellers of Property
• Home Owners and Builders
• Owners of Copyrights and Patents
• Employees and Employers
• Creditors and Debtors
Keep in mind that different types of legal cases will have varying time limitations placed on them. It is incredibly important that you seek advice on legal matters immediately to find out if it is possible to commence legal proceedings.
The Civil Litigation Process: How to File a Law Suit
The first action in any case is to seek a resolution to the dispute before court proceedings commence. This helps save you both time, money, and energy. A variety of alternative dispute resolution methods exist, including round table negotiation, conciliation, conflict mediation, and arbitration. In these situations, dispute resolution lawyers can offer you assistance with this process.
If all attempts made to settle a dispute out of court fail then the next course of action is to take the case to Court.
In general, trial proceedings are both lengthy and complex. They involve various stages, including commencing proceedings, pleadings (which involves the dispute being described by the plaintiff and defended by the defendant), discovery (a disclosure of documents on both sides), trial (where a judge hears the testimony of any witnesses and makes a ruling in the dispute), settlement, and appeal.
Court forms that need to be filed to commence a civil suit vary depending on the type of dispute. You should seek legal advice in regard to which forms you need to submit.