Filing a Lawsuit in Mission Viejo, California

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Litigation Lawyers in Mission Viejo

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

If you think that you may want to file a lawsuit, you should not make this decision easily, 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 reliable Mission Viejo, California civil litigation attorney.

Once you have retained an attorney in Mission Viejo, California, 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 provide 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 Mission Viejo, California

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

Drafting the complaint: In Mission Viejo, California, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the initial 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 determined that you want to file a lawsuit in Mission Viejo, California, and have drafted the complaint, your next important 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 general 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 initial 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.

Awaiting the Defendant's Response: Once a lawsuit has been filed, and the defendant has been served in Mission Viejo, California, the defendant has time to respond. They normally do so by drafting an answer to the complaint, in which they deny the plaintiff's allegations, or assert a legal defense. If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they will be in default, and you may be able to get a "default judgment" against them, in which all of your allegations against the defendant are viewed as if the defendant admitted them, and you only need to show that you've suffered losses that warrant the damages you're asking for.

How Can A Mission Viejo, California Tort Lawyer Help?

As you can see, it can be a complex and difficult process to file a lawsuit in Mission Viejo, California, and it is, in fact, much more complex than the basic outline you just read.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should talk with a qualified Mission Viejo, California attorney.

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Life in Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo, California is a city in Orange County, California. Its current population is estimated to be about 93,000 people, making it one of the largest master-planned communities built under a single plan in the United States.

Mission Viejo, California's economy is dominated by Saddleback College, a community college located in the city. With over 2,000 employees, it is the largest employer in Mission, Viejo, California. The community college is attended by a large number of students who plan to go on to four-year universities. Some of these students go on to graduate school, and become Mission Viejo, California attorneys.

Another major employer in Mission Viejo, California is the local healthcare system, which employs over 1,000 people, such as doctors, as well as administrative personnel, including lawyers.

If you live in Mission Viejo, California and are in need of legal advice, you would do well to contact a Mission Viejo, California attorney as quickly as possible.

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