Passaic, New Jersey Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Passaic

In Passaic, New Jersey, "civil procedure" is a broad term that refers to all of the rules that govern the process of civil litigation. Procedural law (such as civil procedure) is distinguished from substantive law, which governs the rights and obligations that the civil justice system is designed to protect.

Like all laws, the rules of civil procedure in Passaic, New Jersey reflect certain values that society, through its elected representatives, wants to promote. So, the rules of civil procedure have the stated goal of ensuring that the justice system is fair, cost effective, efficient, and accessible to everyone who has a legitimate legal grievance.

Passaic, New Jersey'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 Passaic, New Jersey Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in Passaic, New Jersey, and decide to file a lawsuit, the first document that they file with the court is usually the complaint. The complaint is very important, because it can frame the factual and legal issues, and set the tone, for the rest of the process. The complaint typically contains every factual allegation against the defendant that forms the basis of the plaintiff's lawsuit. It also contains a prayer for relief, in which the plaintiff lays out his or her desired remedies, if the court finds the defendant liable.

Answer: After the plaintiff files the complaint, the defendant has to act. While they have a few options at this stage of the game, most defendants elect to file an answer. The answer is the defendant's first direct response to the plaintiff's allegations. Sometimes, the answer contains a general denial, in which the defendant simply denies everything the plaintiff alleges. It might also contain a point-by-point addressing of every allegation the plaintiff makes, denying some, and admitting some.

Discovery: Once the complaint and answer have been filed in a Passaic, New Jersey 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 Passaic, New Jersey to go to trial. Passaic'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 Passaic, New Jersey Lawyer Help?

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

It should go without saying that you should have a Passaic, New Jersey attorney on hand to deal with any civil procedure issues that you're almost certain to face, if you're involved in a lawsuit.

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Life in Passaic

Passaic, New Jersey is a city in Passaic County. As of a 2008 Census estimate, its population is just under 67,000 people.

The city of Passaic can trace its origins to a Dutch settlement established in 1679, on the Passaic River. "Passaic" comes from the Lenape word pahsayèk, which means "valley." The 19th Century saw a great deal of industrial growth, becoming a center for the textile industry. Passaic is sometimes called the "birthplace of television" because, while the TV was not invented there, it is the site of the first permanent TV station designed to broadcast to consumers. It began transmission in 1931.

Currently, portions of Passaic are designated by the state of New Jersey as "urban enterprise zones." This is part of a state program to promote entrepreneurship and economic growth by targeting areas underserved by businesses providing basic services, and encouraging them to set up shop there through reduced sales taxes (3 1/2% as opposed the statewide rate of 7%), and tax credits for hiring new employees.

If you live in Passaic, New Jersey, and need an attorney, chances are good that you'll be able to find one. Thanks to its size, diversity, and proximity to the large city of Newark, there is a significant legal community there. The chances are good that a Passaic, New Jersey lawyer can help you with whatever legal issues you might face.

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