Elmont, New York Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Elmont

In Elmont, New York, "civil procedure" is a broad term that refers to all of the statutes that control the process of civil litigation. Procedural law (such as civil procedure) is distinguished from substantive law, which covers the rights and obligations that the civil justice system is designed to protect.

Like all laws, the rules of civil procedure in Elmont, New York reflect particular values that society, through its elected representatives, wants to encourage. 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.

Civil litigation in Elmont, New York is almost never a simple process. So, the rules governing this process can't always be simple, either. Remember, civil procedure covers every single step of the civil litigation process, which can drag on for years.

Major Elmont, New York Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The first, and perhaps most important, part of filing a lawsuit in Elmont, New York is the complaint. The complaint is filed with the court in Elmont, New York 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). Normally, 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 a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer normally contains a few things: usually, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will normally raise legal defenses, known as affirmative defenses, arguing that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the defendant should not be held liable, because of extenuating circumstances.

Discovery: The civil procedure rules in Elmont, New York were written with the purpose of, among other things, avoiding surprises. For that reason, everyone immersed 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: In Elmont, New York, it's really extremely 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 Elmont are specifically meant to encourage early resolution of legal disputes, without resorting to a costly and time-consuming trial. However, 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 received 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 Elmont, New York Lawyer Help?

If you are dealing with a lawsuit in Elmont, New York, it's almost certain that you will have to deal with issues concerning civil procedure.

In Elmont, New York, procedural issues can derail an otherwise-valid case. They can also be some of the most obtuse and convoluted issues in the whole case. Thus, you should not go into something like this without the counsel of an attorney.

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Life in Elmont

Elmont, New York is an unincorporated community Nassau County, New York. It is a suburb and bedroom community (a community that is almost entirely residential, populated in large part by people who commute to a nearby, larger, city for their jobs) of New York City. Its population is estimated at about 33,000. The community now known as Elmont can trace its roots back to a land purchase in 1650. Dutch colonists established New Amsterdam in the region, and the colony was eventually transferred to the English, who renamed it "New York." In 1905, the Elmont became home to the Belmont Race Track, which is a major venue for horse racing, and hosts one of the legs of the Triple Crown. During the economic boom following WWII, attractive suburban tract homes began springing up in Elmont, which is largely how it adopted its current role as a residential suburb of New York City. Modernly, Elmont, New York is an extremely diverse city, with roughly equal parts of its population (about 40% each) being African-American and white. It also has significant concentrations of several other ethnicities and cultures, reflecting the diversity of New York, and the U.S. as a whole. Elmont, New York attorneys are numerous, and the selection of attorneys in the greater New York City area is practically unlimited. If you're facing a legal issue, it's very like that an Elmont, New York lawyer can help.

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