Park Ridge, Illinois Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Park Ridge

"Civil procedure" refers to the wide variety of rules that govern the process of civil litigation in Park Ridge, Illinois. It does not deal with the substantive rights that the litigation system is meant to protect, just the process by which it protects them.

The rules of civil procedure in Park Ridge, Illinois are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, affordable, simple, and fair as possible.

Civil litigation, however, is inherently complex. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Park Ridge, Illinois are also going to be somewhat complicated and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Park Ridge, Illinois Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In Park Ridge, Illinois the first step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is usually 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: For the defendant, the answer is usually the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer typically denies most, or all, of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If the allegations are factually correct, and the defendant knows this, the defendant might admit that the allegations are true, but because of extenuating circumstances, they should not be held liable. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that they did strike the plaintiff, but claim that they were acting in self-defense, which would negate or weaken the plaintiff's case.

Discovery: Once both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next process in civil litigation in Park Ridge, Illinois is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is required by law to disclose relevant information to the other side. These disclosures come in the form of depositions, the production of documents, and answers to written questions submitted by opposing counsel.

Trial: In Park Ridge, Illinois, it's actually extremely rare for civil lawsuits to go to trial. Of all the lawsuits that are filed, only a tiny minority make it to trial. The majority are either dismissed, or settled. This is by design: the civil procedure rules in Park Ridge are specifically meant to encourage early resolution of legal disputes, without resorting to a costly and time-consuming trial. However, when a case does go to trial, it is for the purpose of a jury resolving all of the factual disputes between the parties. Each side will present evidence obtained through the discovery process, call witnesses, and make arguments on behalf of their position. Once the jury reaches a verdict (a finding of fact), the judge enters a judgment on the verdict.

How Can a Park Ridge, Illinois Lawyer Help?

If you are dealing with a lawsuit in Park Ridge, Illinois, it's almost certain that you will have to deal with issues concerning civil procedure.

Civil Procedure in Park Ridge, Illinois can be pretty complicated. It's always a good idea to have a lawyer who can advise you on how best to deal with these civil procedure issues.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Park Ridge

Park Ridge is one of Chicago's most affluent suburbs. It has a little over 38,000 residents and conveniently located near O'Hare International Airport. Ironically, the suburb is located "on a ridge," hence the name Park Ridge.

Some popular spots to visit include the Des Plaines River, Rodham Corner, Pickwick Theatre, the main auditorium theater and Park Ridge Public Library.

Park Ridge is also famous because it is the hometown of former First Lady and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. When Clinton goes back to visit, she makes sure to visit all her favorite childhood spots.

Park Ridge residents, being so near Chicago, have available to them a very competent and strong legal force. Chicago is home to top-tier firms that train excellent attorneys in all areas of law.

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