Filing a Lawsuit in Oak Park, Illinois

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Litigation Lawyers in Oak Park

If you live in Oak Park, Illinois and think that you might be the victim of a legal wrong, you may decide that it's worth suing over, to recover compensation from the person who wronged you.

If you wish to file a lawsuit, there are several things you need to consider, and the decision to sue someone should not be made without the counsel of an Oak Park, Illinois civil litigation attorney.

Once you hire an Oak Park, Illinois litigation attorney, he or she will be able to advise you on your chances of succeeding in your lawsuit. Furthermore, your lawyer can inform you on what a lawsuit is likely to cost, both in time and money. Obviously, your lawyer has some control over what it will cost you, based on their fees, and whether they bill an hourly rate, or charge on a contingency rate.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Oak Park, Illinois

Consultation with your attorney: Before you continue in any legal action in Oak Park, Illinois, you should speak with a good local attorney in Oak Park, Illinois. Your legal counsel can make sure you have the best possible chance of winning your case, and help you decide if you should file your lawsuit in the first place.

Drafting The Complaint: In Oak Park, Illinois, the first step in filing a lawsuit is drafting a complaint. The complaint is a document that lays out all of your allegations against the person you're suing. It generally provides necessary background information, details the injuries you suffered, and why the person you're suing is to blame for those injuries. It also usually contains a specific "prayer" (request) for relief - a brief statement telling the court what the plaintiff is asking of it, such as monetary damages, and injunction, or other relief.

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 Oak Park, Illinois 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, generally through the use of a paid process server.

Await the Response: The defendant in Oak Park, Illinois has an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them. They have several options in how they respond to a lawsuit. They can move to dismiss the case (arguing that, even if everything the complaint alleges is true, they would still not be liable for anything), or they can file with the court, and serve upon the plaintiff an answer. An answer is a point-by-point disposal of every allegation against the defendant. The defendant can admit the allegations, deny them, or claim that they do not have enough information to admit or deny them (which basically operates as a denial). Usually, the defendant will admit the inconsequential allegations, so they don't have to be litigated (if the lawsuit is about a car accident involving the plaintiff and defendant, they'll probably go ahead and admit that the accident took place), but deny any allegation that could establish liability, if true (they'll deny responsibility for the car accident, for example). If the defendant does not respond by the deadline, they will have a default judgment entered against them, and automatically lose the case.

How Can A Oak Park, Illinois Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the details involved in filing a lawsuit in Oak Park, Illinois.

Accordingly, it's always a good idea to speak with an Oak Park, Illinois litigation attorney if you are contemplating filing a lawsuit against a person or company.

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Life in Oak Park

Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago, located in Cook County. Its population, as of a 2003 Census estimate, is about 50,000 people.

Via the Chicago Loop, residents and visitors to Oak Park, Illinois, have very easy access to downtown Chicago, and all the amenities and economic opportunities that only one of the nation's largest cities can provide.

The history of Oak Park can be traced back to the 1830s, when a settler purchased about 170 acres of land outside Chicago. By 1850, the area was home to a railroad station, around which future growth would be based. Following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the population of what would become Oak Park began to boom, due to many residents relocating after losing their homes or businesses. Oak Park, Illinois was officially established as town in 1902.

Modernly, Oak Park is known for its many historic buildings, healthy economy, and excellent school system.

Because Oak Park, Illinois is such an attractive place to live for many people, it should be no surprise that plenty of lawyers have set up shop there. Oak Park, Illinois lawyers can handle just about any legal issue a resident of the area is likely to have. If you need any legal assistance, an Oak Park, Illinois lawyer is the first person you should call.

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