Filing a Lawsuit in Gloucester, Massachusetts

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Litigation Lawyers in Gloucester

If you live in Gloucester, Massachusetts and think that you might be the victim of a legal wrong, you may determine that it's worth suing over, to recover compensation from the individual who wronged you.

If you think that filing a lawsuit is a good choice in seeking redress, you should not rush into this decision. A lawsuit is a time-consuming and costly process. You should not make a final decision without talking to a Gloucester, Massachusetts attorney.

Your Gloucester, Massachusetts civil litigation attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate case, and, if so, your best avenues on how to proceed. The attorney will also discuss with you the fees for their services, and whether he or she can represent you on a contingency basis.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Consultation with your attorney: Before you file a lawsuit in a Gloucester, Massachusetts court, you need to meet and confer with a local lawyer. You lawyer in Gloucester, Massachusetts can advise you on whether or not your lawsuit has merit, and how possible it is to prevail.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you determine that pursuing a lawsuit in Gloucester, Massachusetts civil court is worth your time and effort, you need to file a complaint. The complaint can set the tone, and frame the issues, for the rest of the litigation procedure, which can drag on for months, or even years (and decades, in some cases). This is because the complaint lays out all the allegations against the defendant. It also typically asks the court for particular relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: After you draft your complaint, and file it with the court, you have to let the defendant know that they're being sued. The law of Gloucester, Massachusetts states that the defendant be given advance notice of the lawsuit as a matter of general fairness: if you were being sued, you'd want to be given time to find a lawyer and prepare your defense strategy, right? So, with that in mind, the law prefers that defendants be served personally, usually through the use of a paid process server.

Await The Response: The defendant has a given amount of time to respond to your lawsuit, once they confirm that they've been served in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The defendant will likely respond with an answer to your complaint. An answer is a document in which the defendant admits or denies the specific factual allegations made by the plaintiff. Normally, the defendant will admit the allegations that are not seriously in dispute (for instance, if the lawsuit concerns a car accident, they'll probably admit that an accident did, in fact, take place), but deny the more serious allegations (they'll probably deny that they were responsible for the accident). If the defendant fails to respond within a predetermined period of time, they are in "default," and basically lose the case automatically.

How Can A Gloucester, Massachusetts Tort Lawyer Help?

Filing a lawsuit in a Gloucester, Massachusetts court is a bit more intricate than the basic outline laid out above.

Therefore, it's always a good idea to talk with a Gloucester, Massachusetts litigation attorney if you are contemplating filing a lawsuit against a person or company.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Gloucester

Gloucester, Massachusetts is a city located on Cape Ann, in Essex County. According to a 2007 Census estimate, its population is approximately 30,000 people. The area now known as Gloucester was first reached by British settlers in the 1620s. The town of Gloucester was so named in the 1640s (or that's when the first known written reference to the name exists) from a town of the same name en England. The town, thanks to its once-abundant supply of lumber, and its proximity to the ocean, used to be an important shipbuilding center. Though this industry has largely moved elsewhere, it is still an important part of the town's history and culture. It was also once a very important center for commercial fishing, and fishing is still an important component of the local economy. The architecture of Gloucester is quite beautiful, with many sections of the town comprised almost entirely of 100+ year old buildings, giving it the idyllic look distinctive to New England. There are also plenty of lawyers in and around Gloucester, Massachusetts who can handle whatever legal problem you might find yourself facing. New England is home to several exceptional law schools, and, by extension, many exceptional lawyers. If you have a legal issue, a Gloucester, Massachusetts lawyer can help.

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