New Rochelle, New York Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in New Rochelle

In New Rochelle, New York, "civil procedure" is a broad term that refers to all of the statutes that control the process of civil litigation. Procedural law (such as civil procedure) is distinguished from substantive law, which covers the rights and obligations that the civil justice system is designed to safeguard.

New Rochelle, New York's government strives to make the civil justice system fair, efficient, and accessible. The rules of civil procedure are designed to encourage those goals, to the greatest extent possible.

New Rochelle, New York's civil procedure rules can get pretty difficult, however. They control every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.

Major New Rochelle, New York Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in New Rochelle, New York, and decide to file a lawsuit, the initial document that they file with the court is normally the complaint. The complaint is very significant, because it can frame the factual and legal issues, and set the tone, for the rest of the process. The complaint usually 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: For the defendant, the answer is normally the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer usually 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 instance, 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 both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next procedure in civil litigation in New Rochelle, New York is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is obligated by law to disclose relevant information to the other side. These disclosures come in the form of depositions, the production of documents, and answers to written questions submitted by opposing counsel.

Trial: It is really quite rare for civil lawsuits in New Rochelle, New York to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in New Rochelle highly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. Nonetheless, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury determine the questions of law and fact, respectively, raised in the case. The jury then issues a verdict, based on the evidence presented to them.

How Can a New Rochelle, New York Lawyer Help?

If you're suing anyone, or are being sued, in New Rochelle, New York, dealing with issues of civil procedure is going to be a fact of life for quite some time.

Because the rules of civil procedure in New Rochelle, New York are complicated, it's smart to have the counsel of an accomplished attorney through every step of the process.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in New Rochelle

Named by Money Magazine as one of their Top 100 Best Places to live in the United States, New Rochelle, New York has it all. The city, which is just a half hour train ride from the famous Grand Central Station is a New York gem to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. New Rochelle was first settled in the 1700's and it is a city that prides itself on its ethnic and religious diversity. New Rochelle was also the suburban neighborhood featured in the cult classic, Dick Van Dyke show. With views of the Long Island Sound from parts of the city, New Rochelle is home to just under 80,000 residents. With its close proximity to big city New York, New Rochelle has an abundance of fabulous lawyers to serve their local clients in issues ranging from family law to estate planning. New Rochelle lawyers are some of the best and brightest in their business. In addition to lawyers, New Rochelle also has many other professionals that add to the appeal of the city. On the cultural side, New Rochelle has lots of parks and museums for its residents to enjoy. No wonder New Rochelle is considered one of the best places to raise children. Not surprisingly, New Rochelle also has a nationally recognized public school system. New Rochelle has the nickname, "Home Town" because of the large number of single-family residential developments throughout the picturesque city.

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