Litigation Lawyers in Sault Ste. Marie

If you live in Sault Ste. Marie, 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 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 reliable attorney from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan before you proceed.

Your Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan civil litigation attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a legitimate case, and, if so, your best avenues 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 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

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

Drafting The Complaint: In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the initial step to filing a lawsuit, once you've actually decided to do so (in consultation with your attorney), is writing a complaint. A complaint is simply a list of facts that you allege against the defendant. A court must look at these allegations and decide if they add up to a legitimate cause of action, assuming they're true. If they do not add up to a cause of action, the case may be dismissed. The complaint also typically ask the court to provide specific relief, should it 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. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has particular 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 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has an chance to respond to the allegations against them. They have various 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). Typically, 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 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Tort Lawyer Help?

As you can see, it can be an intricate and difficult process to file a lawsuit in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and it is, in fact, much more intricate than the basic outline you just read.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should speak with a qualified Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan attorney.