Filing a Lawsuit in Manhattan Beach, California

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Litigation Lawyers in Manhattan Beach

If you live in , California, and believe that you have sustained some form of legal wrong, you may wish to file a lawsuit against the individual who allegedly wronged you.

If you think that you may want to file a lawsuit, you should not make this decision easily, and there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account. Obviously, you should never go into a lawsuit without at least consulting a reliable Manhattan Beach, California civil litigation attorney.

The Manhattan Beach, California attorney you end up contacting will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will further advise you on your best options on how to proceed. Your lawyer can also inform you about what their fees are, and if they have multiple payment options.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Manhattan Beach, California

Consultation with your attorney: Before you continue in any legal action in Manhattan Beach, California, you should speak with a seasoned local attorney in Manhattan Beach, California. Your legal counsel can make sure you have the best possible chance of winning your case, and help you decide if you should file your lawsuit in the first place.

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Manhattan Beach, California court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is normally the initial step in actually filing a lawsuit. The complaint is the plaintiff's first opportunity to lay out the allegations against the defendant. If a complaint doesn't allege facts that add up to a legitimate lawsuit (that is, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, the defendant has still not committed a legal wrong that the court can compensate), the case will have to be dismissed. When a case is dismissed for this reason, the court normally gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.

Serving The Defendant: Once you have drafted your complaint, you need to serve the defendant with it, and file it with the court. Manhattan Beach, California requires that lawsuits be served on defendants in a particular way. This is to ensure that the defendant has a good deal of notice that they're being sued, giving them time to find an attorney, and work on how they're going to defend themselves. It is highly preferred to serve defendants in person (with a disinterested third party delivering the papers to the defendant). Occasionally, however, the defendant cannot be found, or is trying to avoid service, they can be served by mail with court approval.

Await Defendant's Response: When you have served the defendant with the complaint in Manhattan Beach, California, the defendant has time to respond. The most frequent response is known as an "answer," in which they particularly address the factual allegations you've made against them, normally by denying most of the allegations. They might also move to dismiss the case if they can argue that the complaint is legally flawed. A judge then has to rule on this motion. If the defendant doesn't respond within a specific period of time, they are said to have "defaulted." This allows the court to enter a default judgment, in which the plaintiff essentially automatically wins the lawsuit. Once this happens, the defendant, if they're ever located, can be served with the judgment, and will have very little power to challenge the merits of your case.

How Can A Manhattan Beach, California Tort Lawyer Help?

This simple outline is meant to give you a basic idea of what goes into filing a lawsuit in Manhattan Beach, California, but it is by no means a comprehensive guide.

Thus, it is essential that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in Manhattan Beach, California.

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Life in Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach, California is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County. It has a population of about 35,000 people.

Manhattan Beach, California was founded in the early 1900s, and was named after Manhattan Beach, New York, the hometown of one of the early land developers in the cities.

Modernly, Manhattan Beach is known for its affluence, and its extremely expensive land and home prices. Real estate attorneys in Manhattan Beach, California have carved out some very successful practices in that niche market. Some of the most successful professionals, including lawyers, in the United States have chosen to make Manhattan Beach their home, owing to its exclusive amenities, pleasant climate, and beachfront location.

If you are a resident of Manhattan Beach, California, and are in need of legal services, it's very likely that there is a Manhattan Beach, California lawyer who can help.

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