Litigation Lawyers in Fairhope

In Fairhope, Alabama, "civil procedure" refers to the varied processes and procedures that must be followed when conducting a civil lawsuit.

In Fairhope, Alabama, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and affordable as possible.

Civil litigation, however, is inherently complicated. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Fairhope, Alabama are also going to be somewhat confusing and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Fairhope, Alabama Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In Fairhope, Alabama the initial step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is typically filing a complaint. The complaint is also one of the most significant documents in the civil litigation process. By laying out the wrongs that the plaintiff alleges the defendant has committed, as well as the remedies that the plaintiff wants the court to provide, it can set the tone for the entire rest of the case.

Answer: The answer is a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer typically contains a few things: normally, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will typically raise legal defenses, known as affirmative defenses, arguing that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the defendant should not be held liable, because of extenuating circumstances.

Discovery: After the complaint has been filed in the Fairhope, Alabama court of competent jurisdiction, the next important phase is the discovery process. In a civil lawsuit, there are not supposed to be any surprises (so the dramatic moments you see in TV trials are largely fiction). This predictability largely comes from the discovery process. Each side of the lawsuit has to disclose information relevant to the lawsuit to the other. This information can be acquired by sending the other side written questions, which must be answered under oath, demanding access to documents, and deposing witnesses.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in Fairhope, Alabama to go to trial. Fairhope's civil procedure rules truly discourage trials, and alternatively have designed the system so that it's almost always more cost-effective to settle out of court. Nonetheless, if this is not possible, the matter will go to trial, where a judge and/or jury will decide the factual questions, and then award the appropriate relief (if any) to the prevailing party.

How Can a Fairhope, Alabama Lawyer Help?

If you're suing anyone, or are being sued, in Fairhope, Alabama, dealing with issues of civil procedure is going to be a fact of life for quite some time.

Civil Procedure in Fairhope, Alabama can be pretty confusing. It's always a good idea to have a lawyer who can advise you on how best to deal with these civil procedure issues.