Filing a Lawsuit in Liberty, Missouri

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Litigation Lawyers in Liberty

If you are in Liberty, Missouri and believe that some form of legal wrong has been committed against you, and determine that seeking legal redress will be worth the time and expense involved, you may wish to file a lawsuit.

If you wish to file a lawsuit, there are various things you need to consider, and the decision to sue someone should not be made without the counsel of a Liberty, Missouri civil litigation attorney.

The Liberty, Missouri attorney you end up retaining 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 Liberty, Missouri

Consultation with your attorney: Before you proceed with any legal action in Liberty, Missouri, you should seek the advice and counsel of a reliable Liberty, Missouri attorney. He or she will be indispensable in helping you succeed in your lawsuit.

Drafting The Complaint: In Liberty, Missouri, the initial step to filing a lawsuit, once you've actually decided to do so (in consultation with your attorney), is writing a complaint. A complaint is simply a list of facts that you allege against the defendant. A court must look at these allegations and decide if they add up to a legitimate cause of action, assuming they're true. If they do not add up to a cause of action, the case may be dismissed. The complaint also typically ask the court to provide specific relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: Once you, or your lawyer, have drafted a complaint, the defendant must be served with it, so they have notice that they're being sued, and are given time to prepare a defense. Liberty, Missouri has particular rules governing how a complaint must be served, for the service to be valid. Personal service (having someone give the documents directly to the defendant) is preferred. However, some courts will also accept service by mail in limited circumstances, or service upon an adult member of the defendant's household.

Await Defendant's Response: When you have served the defendant with the complaint in Liberty, Missouri, the defendant has time to respond. The most prevalent response is known as an "answer," in which they particularly address the factual allegations you've made against them, typically 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 given 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 Liberty, Missouri Tort Lawyer Help?

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

Thus, it is important that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in Liberty, Missouri.

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Life in Liberty

Liberty, Missouri is a city in Clay County, and is a suburb of Kansas City. It has a population of about 30,000 people.

Liberty, Missouri was first settled in 1822, and was made the county seat of Clay County shortly thereafter. In 1830, a lawyer named David Rice Atchison opened a practice in Liberty, where he took it upon himself to defend the religious freedoms of Mormon settlers, who were an unpopular and persecuted group at the time. During the Civil War, sympathies for the Confederacy were very prevalent in the area around Liberty, and this thwarted Missouri's plans to remain neutral in the conflict. Liberty, and other parts of Missouri, hosted several important battles of that war, so there are many historic landmarks in the area.

Modernly, Liberty is one of Kansas City's largest suburbs. Major corporations, such as Hallmark, have distribution centers in Liberty. It also hosts the headquarters of Ferrellgas, one of the nation's largest suppliers of Propane and Propane Accessories.

If you have a legal issue, chances are good that there's a lawyer in or around Liberty, Missouri who can handle it. Liberty, Missouri lawyers are competent and well-rounded, and should be able to help you.

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