Filing a Lawsuit in Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Litigation Lawyers in Dearborn Heights

If you live in Dearborn Heights, Michigan and think that you might be the victim of a legal wrong, you may determine that it's worth suing over, to recover compensation from the individual who wronged you.

If you think that filing a lawsuit is a good choice in seeking redress, you should not rush into this decision. A lawsuit is a time-consuming and costly process. You should not make a final decision without talking to a Dearborn Heights, Michigan attorney.

When you contact a civil litigation lawyer in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, they'll be able to give you some extremely useful advice, especially in devising a strategy that maximizes your chances of winning your lawsuit. You'll probably also wonder how much this lawsuit is going to cost you, especially if you don't win. This largely depends on the attorney's fee structure. If the attorney charges an hourly rate, you will simply have to pay the lawyer for every hour they work. This can add up to a huge amount of money, very rapidly. If they charge on a contingency basis, you do not have to pay any attorney's fees unless you win, and payment comes in the form of the percentage of the judgment. However, if you lose, you might still be responsible for costs, such as court fees, which are incurred no matter what happens to the case.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with a Dearborn Heights, Michigan lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Your lawyer will have critical information and advise, helping you decide whether or not your chances of success in the lawsuit make it worth your while to proceed.

Drafting the complaint: In Dearborn Heights, Michigan, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the initial thing you normally have to do is draft a complaint. The complaint is a document that contains all of the allegations you're making against the defendant (the person whom you are suing). It normally must allege all of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action, though in some systems, very few facts are strictly required to be alleged. It also usually has, at the end, a "prayer" (request) for relief. This final section tells the court what type of relief the plaintiff wants, should the court rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: Once you, or your lawyer, have drafted a complaint, the defendant must be served with it, so they have notice that they're being sued, and are given time to prepare a defense. Dearborn Heights, Michigan has certain rules governing how a complaint must be served, for the service to be valid. Personal service (having someone give the documents directly to the defendant) is preferred. However, some courts will also accept service by mail in limited circumstances, or service upon an adult member of the defendant's household.

Await the Response: The defendant in Dearborn Heights, Michigan has an chance to respond to the allegations against them. They have many 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 essentially operates as a denial). Normally, 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 Dearborn Heights, Michigan Tort Lawyer Help?

This simple outline is meant to give you a basic idea of what goes into filing a lawsuit in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, but it is by no means a comprehensive guide.

Therefore, it's always a good idea to talk with a Dearborn Heights, Michigan litigation attorney if you are contemplating filing a lawsuit against a person or company.

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Life in Dearborn Heights

Dearborn Heights is in Wayne County, which is in the Detroit metropolitan area. The city has a population of about 57,774 people.

Some history behind Dearborn Heights is that it formed from the two sections of the Dearborn Township and a small part of the village of Inkster. It was incorporated on March 4, 1960. Surrounding areas include the Ecorse River and the Rouge River.

The city is home to attorneys who practice law in many areas of practice. These attorneys work in small law offices and law firms. They focus on providing personalized legal services to residents and local businesses.

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