Litigation Lawyers in Ravenswood

In Ravenswood, West Virginia, civil procedure is precisely what it sounds like: it refers to the laws that control how civil litigation is done.

In Ravenswood, West Virginia, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and affordable as possible.

In Ravenswood, West Virginia, civil litigation is frequently extremely confusing. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that the rules of civil procedure can also be fairly complicated. After all, they govern everything from the first document filed by the plaintiff, to the last ruling issued by an appeals court.

Major Ravenswood, West Virginia Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: Perhaps the most significant part of filing a lawsuit in Ravenswood, West Virginia is the complaint. The complaint is a document filed with a Ravenswood, West Virginia court that lays out the plaintiff's (the individual filing the suit) allegations against the defendant (the individual being sued), as well as the relief that the plaintiff is seeking from the court.

Answer: The answer is typically the first document that the defendant files, and it is meant to serve as a direct response to the plaintiff's complaint. It typically denies all of the plaintiff's major allegations. It might also lay out affirmative defenses. An "affirmative defense" is a set of reasons that negate the defendant's liability even if their conduct would ordinarily be unlawful. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that he struck the plaintiff, but claim that he acted in self-defense. If that can be shown, it would negate, or mitigate, his liability to the plaintiff.

Discovery: Once the initial documents have been filed by both parties in the proper Ravenswood, West Virginia court, the discovery process begins. "Discovery" refers to a wide range of disclosures that each side of the lawsuit must make to the other. Basically, everyone involved in the lawsuit has to disclose every piece of information in their possession (with some exceptions) that's relevant to the factual issues in the case. There are a few different methods that are employed in this procedure: each side can send written questions to the other, which must be answered under oath. They can additionally request documents, as well as access to physical evidence. They can also conduct depositions (in-person Q&A sessions) of parties and witnesses.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in Ravenswood, West Virginia to go to trial. Ravenswood's civil procedure rules truly discourage trials, and alternatively have designed the system so that it's almost always more cost-effective to settle out of court. Nonetheless, if this is not possible, the matter will go to trial, where a judge and/or jury will decide the factual questions, and then award the appropriate relief (if any) to the prevailing party.

How Can a Ravenswood, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any sort in Ravenswood, West Virginia, you are going to confront civil procedure issues.

It should go without saying that you should have a Ravenswood, West Virginia attorney on hand to deal with any civil procedure issues that you're almost sure to face, if you're engaged in a lawsuit.