Somerville, Massachusetts Civil Procedures

Find the right Litigation attorney in Somerville, MA

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

Litigation Lawyers in Somerville

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

Like all laws, the rules of civil procedure in Somerville, Massachusetts reflect specific values that society, through its elected representatives, wants to advocate. So, the rules of civil procedure have the stated goal of ensuring that the justice system is fair, cost effective, efficient, and accessible to everyone who has a legitimate legal grievance.

Somerville, Massachusetts's civil procedure rules can get pretty intricate, however. They regulate every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.

Major Somerville, Massachusetts Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In Somerville, Massachusetts the first step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is typically 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 typically the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer normally 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: After the complaint has been filed in the Somerville, Massachusetts court of competent jurisdiction, the next major 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 acquired by sending the other side written questions, which must be answered under oath, demanding access to documents, and deposing witnesses.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in Somerville, Massachusetts to go to trial. Somerville's civil procedure rules truly discourage trials, and alternatively have designed the system so that it's almost always more cost-effective to settle out of court. However, if this is not possible, the matter will go to trial, where a judge and/or jury will determine the factual questions, and then award the appropriate relief (if any) to the prevailing party.

How Can a Somerville, Massachusetts Lawyer Help?

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

Civil Procedure in Somerville, Massachusetts can be pretty intricate. 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 Somerville

Located in Middlesex County, Sommerville, Massachusetts is just two miles north from the state capital of Boston. Sommerville has a population of just under 80,000 residents and is listed as the most densely populated communities in all of New England.

Sommerville was first settled in 1630 and is now considered to be one of the most ethnically diverse communities in all of the United States, with many recent immigrants from Brazil, El Salvador, and Haiti. With over fifty spoken languages used in Somerville schools and 1/3 of the city population born i another country, it is no wonder Somerville has such an ethnic distinction.

Arts and culture is another noteworthy aspect of the New England city. Next to New York, Somerville houses more artists per capita than any other city. The city hosts many artistic events such as the Somerville Arts Council, Brickbottom Artist Association, and the ArtBeat Festival.

Diversity and culture make for the perfect location for many of New England's top lawyers to set up show. Somerville lawyers are skilled in a rage of specialties and able to help their neighbor with any legal issue he or she may encounter. There is a thriving legal community in Sommerville, many coming from top law schools located in Boston.

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