Litigation Lawyers in Ewa Beach

If you live in , Hawaii, 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 are contemplating filing a lawsuit, you should know that there are many factors that need to be considered before doing so. You should definitely hire a reputable attorney from Ewa Beach, Hawaii before you proceed.

The Ewa Beach, Hawaii attorney you end up hiring will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will further 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 Ewa Beach, Hawaii

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

Drafting The Complaint: In Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the initial step to filing a lawsuit, once you've actually decided to do so (in consultation with your attorney), is writing a complaint. A complaint is simply a list of facts that you allege against the defendant. A court must look at these allegations and decide if they add up to a legitimate cause of action, assuming they're true. If they do not add up to a cause of action, the case may be dismissed. The complaint also usually ask the court to provide specific relief, should it rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving the Defendant: When you have determined that you want to file a lawsuit in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, 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 specific 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.

Await Defendant's Response: In Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two usually) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most common response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, usually 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 usually 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 Ewa Beach, Hawaii Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the specifics involved in filing a lawsuit in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Thus, it is important that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.