Filing a Lawsuit in White Plains, New York

Find the right Litigation attorney in White Plains, NY

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Litigation Lawyers in White Plains

If you are in White Plains, New York and believe that some form of legal wrong has been committed against you, and determine that seeking legal redress will be worth the time and expense involved, you may wish to file a lawsuit.

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 White Plains, New York before you proceed.

The White Plains, New York attorney you end up retaining will be able to advise you on whether you have a good case. If you do, they will further advise you on your best options on how to proceed. Your lawyer can also inform you about what their fees are, and if they have multiple payment options.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in White Plains, New York

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with a White Plains, New York lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in White Plains, New York. Your lawyer will have essential information and advise, helping you decide whether or not your chances of success in the lawsuit make it worth your while to proceed.

Drafting The Complaint: In White Plains, New York, the initial step in filing a lawsuit is drafting a complaint. The complaint is a document that lays out all of your allegations against the person you're suing. It usually provides necessary background information, details the injuries you suffered, and why the person you're suing is to blame for those injuries. It also usually contains a specific "prayer" (request) for relief - a brief statement telling the court what the plaintiff is asking of it, such as monetary damages, and injunction, or other relief.

Serving the Defendant: When you have determined that you want to file a lawsuit in White Plains, New York, and have drafted the complaint, your next important step is to file the complaint with the court, and serve it on the defendant. The defendant must be given at least several weeks' notice that they're being sued, and as much time to review the complaint. This is a matter of general fairness and due process, and allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and get to work on a defense. The law requires that the defendant be served in a few particular ways. The initial choice is to give it to them in person. This has to be done by a person who does not have any direct involvement in the lawsuit. If that isn't possible, the defendant can be served by giving the complaint to another adult member of their household; this is called substituted service.

Await Defendant's Response: In White Plains, New York, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two typically) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most prevalent response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, typically denying most or all of the allegations) or a motion to dismiss (where the contend that, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, those facts would not establish liability). If the defendant does nothing, and fails to respond, they run the risk of having a default judgment entered against them. This typically means that the court automatically rules against them, treating the plaintiff as if they won the lawsuit. This gives the plaintiff a judgment against the defendant, which they can seek to collect using all legal means.

How Can A White Plains, New York Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the specifics involved in filing a lawsuit in White Plains, New York.

Thus, it is essential that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in White Plains, New York.

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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.

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