Reno, Nevada Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Reno

In Reno, Nevada, "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 Reno, Nevada 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.

The rules of civil procedure in Reno, Nevada are sometimes complicated. Because civil litigation is an inherently complex process, the rules that govern how it proceeds can't be simple, either. They govern every step of the litigation process, from filing the initial complaint, all the way to the final appeals process.

Major Reno, Nevada Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in Reno, Nevada, 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 initial documents have been filed by both parties in the correct Reno, Nevada court, the discovery process begins. "Discovery" refers to a wide range of disclosures that each side of the lawsuit must make to the other. Essentially, everyone involved in the lawsuit has to disclose every piece of information in their possession (with some exceptions) that's relevant to the factual issues in the case. There are a few different methods that are employed in this process: each side can send written questions to the other, which must be answered under oath. They can also request documents, as well as access to physical evidence. They can also conduct depositions (in-person Q&A sessions) of parties and witnesses.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in Reno, Nevada to go to trial. Reno'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 Reno, Nevada Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any kind in Reno, Nevada, you are going to encounter civil procedure issues.

The rules of civil procedure in Reno, Nevada 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.

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Life in Reno

Reno says it's "the biggest little city in the world." Situated in a high desert valley at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, Reno is the seat of Washoe County and home to 220,500 "Reno-ites." It's the fourth most populous city in the State of Nevada behind Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. Like it's compatriots, Reno is best known as a gambling and entertainment destination. Many residents of the Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix vacation in Reno. Most tourists visit during the annual festivals like the Hot August Nights classic car festival, the world renown Nugget Rib Cook-off, Reno Air Races and the Great Reno Balloon Race. There are a number of themed resorts like Circus Circus but nearly every hotel and resort has great shows. Reno is home and birthplace of Harrah's Entertainment.

The area of Reno and nearby Sparks is known as "Truckee Meadows." The city covers 69.3 square miles which also includes the Reno Events Center that hosts many concerts. There is a large population of students in Reno because University of Nevada, Reno is there. UNR is the oldest university in the State of Nevada and has a medical program that attracts national attention. Truckee Meadows Community College enrolls about 13,000 students. Nevada School of Law at Old College in Reno was the first law school in Nevada. There are a lot of courts in Reno so you shouldn't be surprised there are a lot of lawyers too. Reno lawyers can practice law throughout Nevada and know how to handle your legal issues.

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