Pasadena, California Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Pasadena

In Pasadena, California, "civil procedure" refers to the different processes and procedures that must be followed when conducting a civil lawsuit.

The civil procedure rules in Pasadena, California are designed around a few simple goals for the civil litigation system: efficiency, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and, most especially, fairness.

In Pasadena, California, civil litigation is usually extremely difficult. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that the rules of civil procedure can also be fairly intricate. After all, they govern everything from the first document filed by the plaintiff, to the last ruling issued by an appeals court.

Major Pasadena, California Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: Perhaps the most significant part of filing a lawsuit in Pasadena, California is the complaint. The complaint is a document filed with a Pasadena, California court that lays out the plaintiff's (the individual filing the suit) allegations against the defendant (the individual being sued), as well as the relief that the plaintiff is seeking from the court.

Answer: After the plaintiff files the complaint, the defendant has to act. While they have a few avenues at this stage of the game, most defendants elect to file an answer. The answer is the defendant's first direct response to the plaintiff's allegations. Occasionally, the answer contains a general denial, in which the defendant simply denies everything the plaintiff alleges. It might also contain a point-by-point addressing of every allegation the plaintiff makes, denying some, and admitting some.

Discovery: Once both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next procedure in civil litigation in Pasadena, California is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is obligated by law to disclose relevant information to the other side. These disclosures come in the form of depositions, the production of documents, and answers to written questions submitted by opposing counsel.

Trial: In Pasadena, California, it's really very rare for civil lawsuits to go to trial. Of all the lawsuits that are filed, only a tiny minority make it to trial. The majority are either dismissed, or settled. This is by design: the civil procedure rules in Pasadena are particularly meant to encourage early resolution of legal disputes, without resorting to a costly and time-consuming trial. Nonetheless, when a case does go to trial, it is for the purpose of a jury resolving all of the factual disputes between the parties. Each side will present evidence acquired through the discovery process, call witnesses, and make arguments on behalf of their position. Once the jury reaches a verdict (a finding of fact), the judge enters a judgment on the verdict.

How Can a Pasadena, California Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any sort in Pasadena, California, you are going to face civil procedure issues.

Because the rules of civil procedure in Pasadena, California are complicated, it's smart to have the counsel of an accomplished attorney through every step of the process.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Pasadena

Pasadena, California is a city in Los Angeles County. It has a population of about 137,000 people.

Pasadena was first settled by Europeans in the early 1800s, and it was part of a Mexican land grant from that time period. When California became an U.S. state in 1849, Pasadena saw a large wave of settlement from other parts of the United States.

Modernly, Pasadena, California is known for its connection to cutting-edge scientific research. It is home to the California Institute of Technology - one of the leading universities in the country. It is also home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which oversees the operations of many of NASA's deep space exploration probes. It is also the largest employer in Pasadena, California. In addition to employing scientists and engineers, JPL also employs large numbers of administrative personnel, including lawyers.

As you might imagine, because of its high level of education, there are many learned professionals, such as lawyers, in Pasadena, California.

If you are a resident of the Pasadena, California area and need a lawyer, chances are excellent that you'll be able to locate a Pasadena, California attorney who can handle whatever legal issue you might be facing.

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