Filing a Lawsuit in Puyallup, Washington

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Litigation Lawyers in Puyallup

Residents of Puyallup, Washington who suffer legal wrongs are normally legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is normally obtained by 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 Puyallup, Washington civil litigation attorney.

Once you have hired an attorney in Puyallup, Washington, he or she will be able to help you devise a strategy on how to proceed, which will hopefully maximize your chances of success in your lawsuit. Your lawyer can also give you a rough idea of how much the lawsuit is likely to cost, taking into account court fees, expert witness fees, and other costs.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Puyallup, Washington

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with a Puyallup, Washington lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in Puyallup, Washington. Your lawyer will have crucial 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 Puyallup, Washington, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the first thing you normally 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 normally 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 usually 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 decided that you want to file a lawsuit in Puyallup, Washington, and have drafted the complaint, your next major 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 basic 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 certain ways. The first 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.

Await Defendant's Response: In Puyallup, Washington, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two normally) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most frequent response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, normally denying most or all of the allegations) or a motion to dismiss (where the contend that, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, those facts would not establish liability). If the defendant does nothing, and fails to respond, they run the risk of having a default judgment entered against them. This normally means that the court automatically rules against them, treating the plaintiff as if they won the lawsuit. This gives the plaintiff a judgment against the defendant, which they can seek to collect using all legal means.

How Can A Puyallup, Washington Tort Lawyer Help?

Filing a lawsuit in a Puyallup, Washington court is a bit more complex than the basic outline laid out above.

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 Puyallup, Washington.

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Life in Puyallup

Puyallup is a popular suburb just 5 miles east of Tacoma. The population of Puyallup has been on the steady rise and has reached 40,000. The name of the town comes from a local Native American tribe and means "generous." One reason for the name could be the fertile soil. Each year the locally grown daffodils, which are shipped world wide, are featured in the town's annual spring parade as well as the Daffodil Parade. The Daffodil Parade takes place in Tacoma, Puyallup, Orting, and Sumner each year and feature floats, local marching bands, veteran groups, and other clubs. The Puyallup Fair is the biggest annual state fair in Washington and one of the 10 largest in the country. It attracts over 1 million people every year. For the two weeks in September each year, local businesses "do the Puyallup" and show off their best products to all of the visitors.

If you visit the Puyallup Fair at the Puyallup Fairgrounds you may notice the historical information on the grounds' interesting past. It was once used as a World War II internment camp for United States citizens or those of Japanese descent and was called "Camp Harmony." The Antique District is obviously known for its wide selection of antique shops that run along the Meridian Street. It's near the near the Arts Downtown Outdoor Gallery that rotates a selection of artwork appropriate for outdoor installation. Most regular shopping, like back to school, is done at the South Hill Mall that features a number of retail stores like JCPenny, Sears, Target, and Macy's. Puyallup is a booming city that is home to local lawyers. Puyallup lawyers know local courts and procedures so they can help you today.

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