Filing a Lawsuit in Ellicott City, Maryland

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Litigation Lawyers in Ellicott City

If you live in Ellicott City, Maryland 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 think that filing a lawsuit is a good option in seeking redress, you should not rush into this decision. A lawsuit is a time-consuming and expensive process. You should not make a final decision without speaking to an Ellicott City, Maryland attorney.

Once you retain an Ellicott City, Maryland litigation attorney, he or she will be able to advise you on your chances of succeeding in your lawsuit. Additionally, 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 Ellicott City, Maryland

Consultation With Your Attorney: Before filing any lawsuit in Ellicott City, Maryland, you should speak with a local attorney. Your Ellicott City, Maryland attorney will be able to advise you on the merits of your lawsuit, and your chances of success.

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in an Ellicott City, Maryland court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is normally the first step in actually filing a lawsuit. The complaint is the plaintiff's first opportunity to lay out the allegations against the defendant. If a complaint doesn't allege facts that add up to a valid lawsuit (that is, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, the defendant has still not committed a legal wrong that the court can compensate), the case will have to be dismissed. When a case is dismissed for this reason, the court normally gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.

Serving the Defendant: When you have decided that you want to file a lawsuit in Ellicott City, Maryland, and have drafted the complaint, your next major 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 basic 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 certain ways. The first 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.

Awaiting the Defendant's Response: Once a lawsuit has been filed, and the defendant has been served in Ellicott City, Maryland, the defendant has time to respond. They normally do so by drafting an answer to the complaint, in which they deny the plaintiff's allegations, or assert a legal defense. If the defendant fails to respond within a set period of time, they will be in default, and you may be able to get a "default judgment" against them, in which all of your allegations against the defendant are treated as if the defendant admitted them, and you only need to show that you've suffered losses that warrant the damages you're asking for.

How Can A Ellicott City, Maryland Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the details involved in filing a lawsuit in Ellicott City, Maryland.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should talk with a qualified Ellicott City, Maryland attorney.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Ellicott City

Ellicott City, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Howard County. It has a population of approximately 57,000 people as of the 2000 Census Ellicott City, Maryland was founded in 1772, by a small group of Quaker missionaries. Chosen for its picturesque natural scenery and abundant natural resources (particularly lumber), the settlement quickly grew into a bustling community. Tourists are generally drawn to the area because of its beautiful natural scenery. However, Ellicott, Maryland is also home to a niche tourist industry: ghost hunting. It is considered by enthusiasts to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. If you believe in that sort of thing, Ellicott City could be a delightful place to visit. Ellicott City is home to quite a few tourist attractions. In addition to hiking trails, it is home to The Enchanted Forest, an amusement park with a fantasy theme. It is also has a locale Shakespeare company, that regularly puts on productions of the bard's plays. Residents of Ellicott City, and the surrounding area, have access to a wide variety of competent attorneys. Ellicott City, Maryland lawyers are ready to handle just about any case that you are likely to face. Whatever legal issues you're dealing with, an Ellicott City, Maryland lawyer can help.

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