Filing a Lawsuit in Costa Mesa, California

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Litigation Lawyers in Costa Mesa

If you live in , California, and believe that you have suffered some type of legal wrong, you may wish to file a lawsuit against the person who allegedly wronged you.

If you think that you may want to file a lawsuit, you should not make this decision lightly, and there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account. Obviously, you should never go into a lawsuit without at least consulting a knowledgeable Costa Mesa, California civil litigation attorney.

The Costa Mesa, California attorney you end up retaining 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 Costa Mesa, California

Consultation With Your Attorney: Before filing any lawsuit in Costa Mesa, California, you should speak with a local attorney. Your Costa Mesa, California attorney will be able to advise you on the merits of your lawsuit, and your chances of success.

Drafting The Complaint: Once you decide that pursuing a lawsuit in Costa Mesa, California civil court is worth your time and effort, you need to file a complaint. The complaint can set the tone, and frame the issues, for the rest of the litigation process, which can drag on for months, or even years (and decades, in some cases). This is because the complaint lays out all the allegations against the defendant. It also typically asks the court for specific relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: After you draft your complaint, and file it with the court, you have to let the defendant know that they're being sued. The law of Costa Mesa, California requires that the defendant be given advance notice of the lawsuit as a matter of basic fairness: if you were being sued, you'd want to be given time to find a lawyer and prepare your defense strategy, right? So, with that in mind, the law prefers that defendants be served personally, usually through the use of a paid process server.

Await The Response: The defendant has a given amount of time to respond to your lawsuit, once they confirm that they've been served in Costa Mesa, California. The defendant will probably 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. Normally, the defendant will admit the allegations that are not seriously in dispute (for example, 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 predetermined period of time, they are in "default," and basically lose the case automatically.

How Can A Costa Mesa, California Tort Lawyer Help?

Filing a lawsuit in a Costa Mesa, California court is a bit more intricate 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 speak with a qualified Costa Mesa, California attorney.

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Life in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa, California is a city in Orange County. Its population is currently 110,000 people.

Costa Mesa, California was founded in 1953. It was primarily a rural community at its founding, and it gradually transitioned into a suburban "edge" community with a strong economy based on commerce, retail, and light manufacturing.

The largest commercial center in Costa Mesa is the South Coast Plaza, a shopping center of over 300 stores. It is known for its unique architecture and large size. Consumers spend well over 1 billion dollars per year, providing a major driving force of Costa Mesa's economy. The owners of the shopping center typically need legal representation when negotiating and finalizing lease agreements with tenants. The owners, as well as prospective tenants, employ or retain large numbers of Costa Mesa, California attorneys.

If you need to find legal advice in Costa Mesa, California, you should start by seeking out a qualified attorney in Costa Mesa. A Costa Mesa lawyer can probably help you with whatever legal issue you may be facing.

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