Filing a Lawsuit in Warwick, Rhode Island

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Litigation Lawyers in Warwick

If you are a resident of Warwick, 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 several 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 a Warwick, Rhode Island civil litigation attorney first.

When you retain a civil litigation lawyer in Warwick, 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 Warwick, Rhode Island

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

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Warwick, Rhode Island court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is usually 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 usually gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.

Serving The Defendant: Once you and your attorney have written a good complaint, and filed it with the court, it needs to be served on the defendant within a certain period of time. This is necessary under the law of Warwick, Rhode Island to ensure that the defendant actually knows that he's being sued, and has time to find a lawyer and prepare a defense. Generally, the defendant should be served in person. However, when this isn't possible, service by mail is also acceptable in a few instances.

Await The Response: The defendant has a certain amount of time to respond to your lawsuit, once they confirm that they've been served in Warwick, Rhode Island. The defendant will likely respond with an answer to your complaint. An answer is a document in which the defendant admits or denies the specific factual allegations made by the plaintiff. Typically, the defendant will admit the allegations that are not seriously in dispute (for instance, if the lawsuit concerns a car accident, they'll probably admit that an accident did, in fact, take place), but deny the more serious allegations (they'll probably deny that they were responsible for the accident). If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they are in "default," and basically lose the case automatically.

How Can A Warwick, Rhode Island Tort Lawyer Help?

Filing a lawsuit in a Warwick, Rhode Island court is a bit more complicated than the basic outline laid out above.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should consult with a qualified Warwick, Rhode Island attorney.

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Life in Warwick

Warwick, Rhode Island is the second largest city in the small state of Rhode Island with a population of just under 90,000 residents. The sizeable city is on almost 50 square miles and is home to the main airport in Rhode Island as well as the Rhode Island National Guard. Warwick was founded in 1642, and is a city with some major historical significance. Warwick was the site where the first shot was fired in the American Revolution, and was also the site for many other important battles that ultimately led to America's independence. Not surprisingly, there are many relics to commemorate the various sites throughout the city. Warwick has come a long way from its roots and is a popular place to live and visit in Rhode Island. It is no wonder that Warwick attracts some of the state's top professionals to live and practice in it's borders. Warwick lawyers are trained at some of the nation's top law schools and are skilled in a range of practice areas. Warwick lawyers, along with the rest of the Warwick workforce are just one more reason that makes this city so wonderful.

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