Litigation Lawyers in Jonesboro

In Jonesboro, Arkansas, "civil procedure" refers to the varied processes and procedures that must be followed when conducting a civil lawsuit.

In Jonesboro, Arkansas, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and cost-effective as possible.

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

Major Jonesboro, Arkansas Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In Jonesboro, Arkansas the first step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is typically filing a complaint. The complaint is also one of the most important documents in the civil litigation process. By laying out the wrongs that the plaintiff alleges the defendant has committed, as well as the remedies that the plaintiff wants the court to provide, it can set the tone for the entire rest of the case.

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 circumstances 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 proven, it would negate, or mitigate, his liability to the plaintiff.

Discovery: Once the complaint and answer have been filed in a Jonesboro, Arkansas court, the next major civil procedure issue comes up. Discovery is the process in which both sides of the lawsuit are required to disclose required evidence to one another. The lawyers for each side can submit written questions, which the other party is required to answer under oath, unless the information is privileged. Each side can also request any relevant documents, physical evidence, and can conduct depositions of witnesses and parties to the lawsuit.

Trial: Although the trial is arguably the most dramatic element of civil procedure in Jonesboro, Arkansas, it is truly extremely rare for civil lawsuits to make it this far. Civil procedure in Jonesboro is designed to encourage early settlement of cases, or dismissal of cases that don't have any legal or factual merit. However, in the rare cases when the case is not dismissed, and the parties can't reach a settlement, the matter will go to trial. A trial is the most visible aspect of civil litigation, and it is the stage when all of the legal and factual questions raised by both parties are resolved by a judge and jury, respectively.

How Can a Jonesboro, Arkansas Lawyer Help?

If you're suing someone, or are being sued, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, dealing with issues of civil procedure is going to be a fact of life for quite some time.

The rules of civil procedure in Jonesboro, Arkansas are not always simple or intuitive. With that in mind, it's very important to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side, to help you through the process.