Mishawaka, Indiana Civil Procedures

Find the right Litigation attorney in Mishawaka, IN

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Litigation Lawyers in Mishawaka

"Civil procedure" refers to the wide variety of rules that regulate the process of civil litigation in Mishawaka, Indiana. It does not deal with the substantive rights that the litigation system is meant to safeguard, just the process by which it protects them.

The rules of civil procedure in Mishawaka, Indiana are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, low-cost, simple, and fair as possible.

Civil litigation in Mishawaka, Indiana is almost never a simple process. So, the rules controlling this process can't always be simple, either. Remember, civil procedure governs every single step of the civil litigation process, which can drag on for years.

Major Mishawaka, Indiana Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The initial, and perhaps most significant, part of filing a lawsuit in Mishawaka, Indiana is the complaint. The complaint is filed with the court in Mishawaka, Indiana that's responsible for handling civil trials. It lists everything that the plaintiff (the person who is suing) alleges against the defendant (the person the plaintiff is suing). Usually, but not always, the end of the complaint will contain a "prayer for relief." The prayer for relief is just a statement of what the plaintiff is asking the court to do to remedy the harm that the defendant allegedly caused.

Answer: Once the complaint is filed, the ball is in the defendant's court, so to speak. In the answer, the defendant has an chance to respond to all of the factual allegations made by the plaintiff, usually by denying them. The defendant might also raise affirmative defenses, which could keep the defendant from being held liable. For instance, if the defendant is accused of battery, and he did, in fact, batter the plaintiff, he might admit to that fact, but claim that the plaintiff was the aggressor, and he acted purely in self-defense. If he can prove that he acted in self-defense, he likely will not be held liable.

Discovery: After the complaint has been filed in the Mishawaka, Indiana court of competent jurisdiction, the next important phase is the discovery process. In a civil lawsuit, there are not supposed to be any surprises (so the dramatic moments you see in TV trials are largely fiction). This predictability largely comes from the discovery process. Each side of the lawsuit has to disclose information relevant to the lawsuit to the other. This information can be obtained by sending the other side written questions, which must be answered under oath, demanding access to documents, and deposing witnesses.

Trial: It is actually quite rare for civil lawsuits in Mishawaka, Indiana to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in Mishawaka highly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. Nonetheless, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury determine the questions of law and fact, respectively, raised in the case. The jury then issues a verdict, based on the evidence presented to them.

How Can a Mishawaka, Indiana Lawyer Help?

If you are dealing with a lawsuit in Mishawaka, Indiana, it's almost given that you will have to deal with issues regarding civil procedure.

It should go without saying that you should have a Mishawaka, Indiana attorney on hand to deal with any civil procedure issues that you're almost sure to face, if you're involved in a lawsuit.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Mishawaka

Mishawaka is a city located on the St. Joseph River, which is in St. Joseph County, Indiana. It has a population of approximately 48,300 people.

Some popular sites include Beuttler Park, Battell Park, Shiojiri Garden, The Beiger Mansion, Karmm Schellinger Brewing Company, AM General, Bethel College, Bonnie Doon, and West End.

Mishawaka also is home to many attorneys who practice in many legal fields. These attorneys provide competent advice and are well-trained to handle any and every legal need.

Some famous residents include Tom Ehlers, Freddie Fitzsimmons, George Gulyanics, Achille "Chick" Maggioli, and Irene Vernon.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA