Filing a Lawsuit in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Litigation Lawyers in Bethlehem

If you are a resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and believe that somebody has committed a legal wrong against you, and have determined that the effort and expense involved in seeking payment is worth it, you may consider filing a lawsuit.

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

When you contact a civil litigation lawyer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, they'll be able to give you some extremely useful advice, especially in devising a strategy that maximizes your chances of winning your lawsuit. You'll probably also wonder how much this lawsuit is going to cost you, especially if you don't win. This largely depends on the attorney's fee structure. If the attorney charges an hourly rate, you will simply have to pay the lawyer for every hour they work. This can add up to a huge amount of money, very rapidly. If they charge on a contingency basis, you do not have to pay any attorney's fees unless you win, and payment comes in the form of the percentage of the judgment. However, if you lose, you might still be responsible for costs, such as court fees, which are incurred no matter what happens to the case.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is normally the initial step in actually filing a lawsuit. The complaint is the plaintiff's first opportunity to lay out the allegations against the defendant. If a complaint doesn't allege facts that add up to a legitimate lawsuit (that is, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, the defendant has still not committed a legal wrong that the court can compensate), the case will have to be dismissed. When a case is dismissed for this reason, the court normally gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.

Serving The Defendant: Once you have drafted your complaint, you need to serve the defendant with it, and file it with the court. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania requires that lawsuits be served on defendants in a particular way. This is to ensure that the defendant has a good deal of notice that they're being sued, giving them time to find an attorney, and work on how they're going to defend themselves. It is highly preferred to serve defendants in person (with a disinterested third party delivering the papers to the defendant). Occasionally, however, the defendant cannot be found, or is trying to avoid service, they can be served by mail with court approval.

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

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

You should seek the advice of a reliable litigation attorney if you are planning on filing a lawsuit against somebody who you think has wronged you in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

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Life in Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a part of Lehigh and Northhampton Counties in Pennsylvania. It is a decently sized city with around 75,000 people.

Major employers that have a presence in Bethlehem include the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Bethlehem Steel, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, and St. Luke's Hospital.

Along with these employers, lawyers also have a presence in the city. Many attorneys practice in law offices or firms in Bethlehem, and focus on providing personalized services to their clients.

Attractions include the Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center, the SouthSide Film Festival, NEARFest, the Banana Factory, Zoellner Arts Center, Sands Casino Resort, and the Lehigh Canal.

Interestingly, many celebrities have called Bethlehem home at some point in their life. These celebrities include John Andretti, Chuck Bednarik, Jonathan Frakes, Mel Harris, Dwayne Johnson, Gary Lavelle, Billy Packer, John Spagnola, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

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