Edison, New Jersey Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Edison

In Edison, New Jersey, "civil procedure" is a broad term that refers to all of the laws that regulate the process of civil litigation. Procedural law (such as civil procedure) is distinguished from substantive law, which regulates the rights and obligations that the civil justice system is designed to protect.

Like all laws, the rules of civil procedure in Edison, New Jersey reflect specific values that society, through its elected representatives, wants to advocate. So, the rules of civil procedure have the stated goal of ensuring that the justice system is fair, cost effective, efficient, and accessible to everyone who has a legitimate legal grievance.

Edison, New Jersey's civil procedure rules can get pretty intricate, however. They regulate every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.

Major Edison, New Jersey Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The first, and perhaps most important, part of filing a lawsuit in Edison, New Jersey is the complaint. The complaint is filed with the court in Edison, New Jersey that's responsible for handling civil trials. It lists everything that the plaintiff (the person who is suing) alleges against the defendant (the person the plaintiff is suing). Typically, but not always, the end of the complaint will contain a "prayer for relief." The prayer for relief is simply a statement of what the plaintiff is asking the court to do to remedy the harm that the defendant allegedly caused.

Answer: The answer is typically the first document that the defendant files, and it is meant to serve as a direct response to the plaintiff's complaint. It typically denies all of the plaintiff's major allegations. It might also lay out affirmative defenses. An "affirmative defense" is a set of circumstances that negate the defendant's liability even if their conduct would ordinarily be unlawful. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that he struck the plaintiff, but claim that he acted in self-defense. If that can be proven, it would negate, or mitigate, his liability to the plaintiff.

Discovery: The civil procedure rules in Edison, New Jersey were written with the purpose of, among other things, avoiding 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 process, during which the attorneys for both sides are required to disclose (with some exemptions) all information relevant to the trial which they have in their possession. These disclosures come in multiple 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: It is truly quite rare for civil lawsuits in Edison, New Jersey to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in Edison strongly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. However, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury decide the questions of law and fact, respectively, raised in the case. The jury then issues a verdict, based on the evidence presented to them.

How Can a Edison, New Jersey Lawyer Help?

If you're facing any substantial legal issue in Edison, New Jersey, you can be pretty much certain that you'll face at least a few procedural complications that can hold up the process.

The rules of civil procedure in Edison, New Jersey are not always simple or intuitive. With that in mind, it's very important to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side, to help you through the process.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Edison

Edison, also known as "Edison Township," is in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Edison was incorporated as Raritan Township prior to becoming Edison Township.

In 2006, Money Magazine ranked Edison the twenty-eighth most livable small city in the U.S. Two years later, this rank fell to thirty-five. In 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked the city as one of "America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up." U.S. News and World Report uses factors such as low crime, a strong school system, greenery, and recreational activities.

With all of Edison's distinctions, naturally it is home to a variety of professionals, including attorneys. Many attorneys practice law in Edison and are able to aid residents and local businesses with their legal needs.

Past and present famous residents include David Bryan, Al Chez, Tom Dwan, Patrick McDonnell, Brittany Murphy, Susan Sarandon, Mike Vallely, Darrin Winston, and Jeremy Zuttah.

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