White Plains, New York Civil Procedures

Find the right Litigation attorney in White Plains, NY

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Litigation Lawyers in White Plains

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

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

The rules of civil procedure in White Plains, New York are sometimes confusing. Because civil litigation is an inherently intricate 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 White Plains, New York Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in White Plains, New York, and decide to file a lawsuit, the initial document that they file with the court is typically 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 normally 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: The answer is a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer typically contains a few things: normally, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will typically raise legal defenses, known as affirmative defenses, arguing that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the defendant should not be held liable, because of extenuating circumstances.

Discovery: The civil procedure rules in White Plains, New York were written with the purpose of, among other things, preventing surprises. For that reason, everyone engaged in a lawsuit goes into trial with a pretty good idea of what evidence the other side has. This is largely because of the discovery procedure, during which the attorneys for both sides are obligated to disclose (with some exemptions) all information relevant to the trial which they have in their possession. These disclosures come in several forms, such as simply sending boxes of documents, deposing witnesses, or submitting written questions to the other side, which the recipient is obligated to answer under oath.

Trial: It's quite rare for lawsuits in White Plains, New York to go to trial. White Plains's civil procedure rules truly discourage trials, and alternatively have designed the system so that it's almost always more cost-effective to settle out of court. Nonetheless, if this is not possible, the matter will go to trial, where a judge and/or jury will decide the factual questions, and then award the appropriate relief (if any) to the prevailing party.

How Can a White Plains, New York Lawyer Help?

If you're facing a lawsuit in White Plains, New York whether as the plaintiff or defendant, you will have to interact with your jurisdiction's civil procedure rules.

It should go without saying that you should have a White Plains, New York attorney on hand to deal with any civil procedure issues that you're almost sure to face, if you're engaged in a lawsuit.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in White Plains

White Plains is located in Westchester County, New York. It is an affluent county that is home to around one million people. It is just north of New York City. Surrounding areas include the Hudson River, Harrison, Long Island Sound, Scarsdale, and Greenburgh. Per the 2010 census, White Plains itself has a population of 56,853 people.

Top employers include the Starwood Hotels, ITT, Bunge, Combe, Alliance Bernstein, Dannon, Krasdale Foods, Nine West, Vimeo, Acadia Realty Trust, AboveNet, Heineken, and Nokia. Naturally, to support all these corporations, White Plains is home to excellent and qualified attorneys who are there to serve the legal needs of residents and businesses.

Popular sites include the White Plains Armory, the Percy Grainger Home, and the Jacob Purdy House.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA