Mesa, Arizona Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Mesa

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

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

Civil litigation in Mesa, Arizona is almost never a simple process. So, the rules controlling this process can't always be simple, either. Remember, civil procedure governs every single step of the civil litigation process, which can drag on for years.

Major Mesa, Arizona Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in Mesa, Arizona, and decide to file a lawsuit, the initial document that they file with the court is typically the complaint. The complaint is very significant, because it can frame the factual and legal issues, and set the tone, for the rest of the process. The complaint normally contains every factual allegation against the defendant that forms the basis of the plaintiff's lawsuit. It also contains a prayer for relief, in which the plaintiff lays out his or her desired remedies, if the court finds the defendant liable.

Answer: Once the complaint is filed, the ball is in the defendant's court, so to speak. In the answer, the defendant has an chance to respond to all of the factual allegations made by the plaintiff, typically by denying them. The defendant might also raise affirmative defenses, which could keep the defendant from being held liable. For instance, if the defendant is accused of battery, and he did, in fact, batter the plaintiff, he might admit to that fact, but claim that the plaintiff was the aggressor, and he acted purely in self-defense. If he can establish that he acted in self-defense, he likely will not be held liable.

Discovery: The civil procedure rules in Mesa, Arizona were written with the purpose of, among other things, preventing surprises. For that reason, everyone engaged in a lawsuit goes into trial with a pretty good idea of what evidence the other side has. This is largely because of the discovery procedure, during which the attorneys for both sides are obligated to disclose (with some exemptions) all information relevant to the trial which they have in their possession. These disclosures come in several forms, such as simply sending boxes of documents, deposing witnesses, or submitting written questions to the other side, which the recipient is obligated to answer under oath.

Trial: Although the trial is arguably the most dramatic element of civil procedure in Mesa, Arizona, it is truly very rare for civil lawsuits to make it this far. Civil procedure in Mesa is designed to encourage early settlement of cases, or dismissal of cases that don't have any legal or factual merit. Nonetheless, in the rare cases when the case is not dismissed, and the parties can't reach a settlement, the matter will go to trial. A trial is the most visible aspect of civil litigation, and it is the stage when all of the legal and factual questions raised by both parties are resolved by a judge and jury, respectively.

How Can a Mesa, Arizona Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any sort in Mesa, Arizona, you are going to confront civil procedure issues.

In Mesa, Arizona, procedural issues can derail an otherwise-valid case. They can also be some of the most obtuse and convoluted issues in the whole case. Consequently, you should not go into something like this without the counsel of an attorney.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Mesa

Mesa is a Maricopa County city that's home to 440,000 Arizona residents. That population earns Mesa the title of 3rd largest city in the state behind nearby Phoenix and Tucson. Mesa serves as a ?bedroom community' meaning that many Mesa residents work in nearby cities. One positive thing about the bedroom community is that a number of good schools in the area like the Maricopa Community College. It's the largest of any Maricopa County Community Colleges. Arizona state University and A.R. Still University both operate small campuses in Mesa. Mesa Public Schools are the top employer although Banner Health and Boeing both have strong installations together employing over 12,500. Boeing actually produces the Apache AH-64 attack helicopter at a facility adjoining Falcon Field.

Mesa hosts the WAC Baseball Tournament and the Chicago Cubs spend spring training playing Cactus League games at HoHoKam Park. The upscale Fiesta Mall on the Westside of Mesa offers outstanding shopping for locals and tourists alike. However, Mesa Riverview on the Northside of the city boasts funky stores and eateries like Toby Keith's I Love This Bar Grill. METRO Light Rail, local freeways like local U.S. Route 60, and a number of local airports service Mesa's commuters.

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