Filing a Lawsuit in Saginaw, Michigan

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Litigation Lawyers in Saginaw

If you live in Saginaw, Michigan 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 are contemplating filing a lawsuit, you should know that there are many factors that need to be considered before doing so. You should definitely contact a knowledgeable attorney from Saginaw, Michigan before you proceed.

Your Saginaw, Michigan civil litigation attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate case, and, if so, your best options on how to proceed. The attorney will also discuss with you the fees for their services, and whether he or she can represent you on a contingency basis.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Saginaw, Michigan

Consultation with your attorney: Before you proceed with any legal action in Saginaw, Michigan, you should seek the advice and counsel of a knowledgeable Saginaw, Michigan attorney. He or she will be indispensable in helping you succeed in your lawsuit.

Drafting the complaint: In Saginaw, Michigan, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the first thing you typically 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 typically 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 normally 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: When you have decided that you want to file a lawsuit in Saginaw, Michigan, 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 particular 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.

Await Defendant's Response: In Saginaw, Michigan, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two typically) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most prevalent response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, typically denying most or all of the allegations) or a motion to dismiss (where the contend that, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, those facts would not establish liability). If the defendant does nothing, and fails to respond, they run the risk of having a default judgment entered against them. This typically means that the court automatically rules against them, treating the plaintiff as if they won the lawsuit. This gives the plaintiff a judgment against the defendant, which they can seek to collect using all legal means.

How Can A Saginaw, Michigan Tort Lawyer Help?

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

Therefore, if you want to file a lawsuit against someone in Saginaw, Michigan, you should not hesitate to speak with an attorney, who will be able to advise you on the best way to proceed.

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Life in Saginaw

Saginaw, Michigan is a city in Saginaw County. It is the county seat. As of 2009, it has a population of about 55,000, down from nearly 62,000 in the year 2000.

The area now called Saginaw was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. French traders and missionaries were the first Europeans to explore the area, arriving in the 1600s. The first permanent non-native settlement was established in 1815, and, like many early settlements in the region, served as a trading post.

Unfortunately, Saginaw has not been spared the economic hardship that has befallen much of the Midwest in recent decades. It has a high crime rate, and nearly 30% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Nonetheless, Saginaw is still a vibrant community, populated by thousands of people who love it. This shows in its locally-owned businesses to which customers are fiercely loyal, and entertainment venues featuring local artists.

Saginaw, Michigan also has a legal community that should be able to help a resident of the area with virtually any legal issue they're likely to face. If you live in Saginaw, Michigan and need legal advice, you should contact a Saginaw, Michigan attorney quickly.

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