Filing a Lawsuit in Norfolk, Virginia

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Litigation Lawyers in Norfolk

Residents of Norfolk, Virginia who suffer legal wrongs are usually legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is usually obtained by filing a lawsuit.

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

The Norfolk, Virginia attorney you end up hiring will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will also advise you on your best options on how to proceed. Your lawyer can also inform you about what their fees are, and if they have multiple payment options.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Norfolk, Virginia

Consultation with your attorney: Before you continue in any legal action in Norfolk, Virginia, you should speak with a good local attorney in Norfolk, Virginia. Your legal counsel can make sure you have the best possible chance of winning your case, and help you decide if you should file your lawsuit in the first place.

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Norfolk, Virginia court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is usually the first 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 valid 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 have drafted your complaint, you need to serve the defendant with it, and file it with the court. Norfolk, Virginia requires that lawsuits be served on defendants in a certain 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 strongly preferred to serve defendants in person (with a disinterested third party delivering the papers to the defendant). Sometimes, 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 Norfolk, Virginia, the defendant has time to respond. The most common response is known as an "answer," in which they specifically address the factual allegations you've made against them, usually 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 certain 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 Norfolk, Virginia Tort Lawyer Help?

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

Therefore, if you want to file a lawsuit against someone in Norfolk, Virginia, you should not hesitate to speak with an attorney, who will be able to advise you on the best way to proceed.

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Life in Norfolk

Norfolk is Virginia's second-largest city. It is an independent city, and therefore not part of any county. It currently has a population of about 233,000 people.

Norfolk, Virginia was founded as an English colony in the 1620s, during the early days of English settlement in North America. By the time of American independence, Norfolk was considered one of the wealthiest cities in Virginia, owing its prosperity mostly to the burgeoning tobacco industry.

Modernly, Norfolk is coming out of some hard economic times. It is currently in the throes of a major urban renewal project, aimed at attracting businesses and residents back to its urban core. Norfolk's economy has been sustained by the presence of a naval shipyard, as well as a major commercial port, both of which provide thousands of jobs. Norfolk is also home to the headquarters of several Fortune 500 companies.

Because of its economic and demographic diversity, Norfolk, Virginia, there is a thriving and sophisticated legal community there. Norfolk, Virginia lawyers are capable of handling just about any legal problem a person might have. If you have any legal issues, you should contact a Norfolk, Virginia lawyer as soon as possible.

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