Portage, Michigan Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Portage

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

Portage, Michigan's government strives to make the civil justice system fair, efficient, and accessible. The rules of civil procedure are designed to promote those goals, to the greatest extent possible.

Portage, Michigan's civil procedure rules can get pretty complicated, however. They govern every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.

Major Portage, Michigan Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The complaint is probably the most important document that the plaintiff will file in a Portage, Michigan lawsuit, and it is usually the first. The complaint contains all of the plaintiff's allegations against the defendant, as well as the relief that the plaintiff is asking the court to provide. Therefore, it can frame the tone, as well as the legal and factual issues, that will dominate the 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 the complaint and answer have been filed in a Portage, Michigan court, the next major civil procedure issue comes up. Discovery is the process in which both sides of the lawsuit are required to disclose required evidence to one another. The lawyers for each side can submit written questions, which the other party is required to answer under oath, unless the information is privileged. Each side can also request any relevant documents, physical evidence, and can conduct depositions of witnesses and parties to the lawsuit.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in Portage, Michigan to go to trial. Portage's civil procedure rules actually discourage trials, and instead 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 Portage, Michigan Lawyer Help?

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

The rules of civil procedure in Portage, Michigan are not always simple or intuitive. With that in mind, it's very important to have a good attorney on your side, to help you through the process.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Portage

Portage is a Kalamazoo County city that incorporated as an official Michigan State city in 1963. There are roughly 45,000 Michigan State residents living in Portage which is known nationally for its fantastic network of well kept historical parks, trails, and other recreational areas. The bikeway system, constructed in 1989, totals over 50 miles long accessing nearly every portion of Portage. That's over five times the length of the city's expressways! The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, an aviation museum, is a popular attraction for visitors. Great restaurants like the Craftsman Chop Company, Fieldstone Grill, and Bravo Restaurant Café attract tourist and local clientele with their outstanding dishes. There are also plenty of chain restaurants within city limits. Shopping is also a Portage attraction. The Crossroads Mall is the largest retail center in all of Southwest Michigan providing shoppers with a wide range of choices. Some visitors opt to stay in the accommodations near the mall but there are also a number of other locally owned hotels available.

Portage serves as a somewhat major distribution center as a result of affordable warehousing and convenient location along major state highways. So much business is sure to attract plenty of professionals like lawyers. Portage lawyers can help you sort out whatever legal issue you may encounter and they also have experience with local Portage, Kalamazoo County, and Michigan State court procedures. Portage is a destination for so many different things like business and pleasure making it quite the rising star attraction in the State of Michigan.

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