Filing a Lawsuit in East Providence, Rhode Island

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Litigation Lawyers in East Providence

If you are a resident of East Providence, Rhode Island 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're contemplating filing a lawsuit, there are various things you need to consider, and it is not a decision to be made lightly. You should not file a lawsuit without seeking the advice of an East Providence, Rhode Island civil litigation attorney first.

When you hire a civil litigation lawyer in East Providence, Rhode Island, 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 East Providence, Rhode Island

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with an East Providence, Rhode Island lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in East Providence, Rhode Island. Your lawyer will have critical information and advise, helping you decide whether or not your chances of success in the lawsuit make it worth your while to proceed.

Drafting the complaint: In East Providence, Rhode Island, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the initial thing you typically have to do is draft a complaint. The complaint is a document that contains all of the allegations you're making against the defendant (the person whom you are suing). It typically must allege all of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action, though in some systems, very few facts are strictly required to be alleged. It also normally has, at the end, a "prayer" (request) for relief. This final section tells the court what type of relief the plaintiff wants, should the court rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving the Defendant: When you have determined that you want to file a lawsuit in East Providence, Rhode Island, and have drafted the complaint, your next important step is to file the complaint with the court, and serve it on the defendant. The defendant must be given at least several weeks' notice that they're being sued, and as much time to review the complaint. This is a matter of general fairness and due process, and allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and get to work on a defense. The law requires that the defendant be served in a few particular ways. The initial choice is to give it to them in person. This has to be done by a person who does not have any direct involvement in the lawsuit. If that isn't possible, the defendant can be served by giving the complaint to another adult member of their household; this is called substituted service.

Awaiting the Defendant's Response: Once a lawsuit has been filed, and the defendant has been served in East Providence, Rhode Island, the defendant has time to respond. They typically do so by drafting an answer to the complaint, in which they deny the plaintiff's allegations, or assert a legal defense. If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they will be in default, and you may be able to get a "default judgment" against them, in which all of your allegations against the defendant are viewed as if the defendant admitted them, and you only need to establish that you've suffered losses that warrant the damages you're asking for.

How Can A East Providence, Rhode Island Tort Lawyer Help?

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

Thus, it is crucial that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in East Providence, Rhode Island.

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Life in East Providence

East Providence, Rhode Island is a city of approximately 50,000 in Providence County. It is the 5th largest city in the state of Rhode Island.

East Providence is considered a major suburb of Providence. Although it is a relatively small city by national standards, it is fairly large Rhode Island standards, and it has dozens of sites and buildings in the National Register of Historic Places. Because of its many historical sites, it is fairly popular among tourists visiting the New England region.

East Providence, Rhode Island also boasts a large number of parks for outdoor recreation.

It has been designated an "enterprise zone" by the state of Rhode Island. In an effort to promote economic growth in particular need of it, the state has a program to incentivize the establishment of businesses in designated enterprise zones, such as East Providence. For example, such as tax credits for hiring new employees, and continuing to increase the number of employees each year. Some permit fees are also waived, and the process of acquiring business permits is streamlined.

If you live in East Providence, and find yourself in need of legal representation, an East Providence, Rhode Island attorney can help.

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