Litigation Lawyers in Wilkinsburg

"Civil procedure" in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania is a very broad term, and it refers to the wide variety of rules that control how civil litigation is conducted. It is to be distinguished from substantive law, which governs the rights that civil litigation is meant to vindicate.

In Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and cost-effective as possible.

Civil litigation in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania is almost never a simple process. So, the rules governing this process can't always be simple, either. Remember, civil procedure covers every single step of the civil litigation process, which can drag on for years.

Major Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: Perhaps the most important part of filing a lawsuit in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania is the complaint. The complaint is a document filed with a Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania court that lays out the plaintiff's (the person filing the suit) allegations against the defendant (the person being sued), as well as the relief that the plaintiff is seeking from the court.

Answer: Once the complaint is filed, the ball is in the defendant's court, so to speak. In the answer, the defendant has an opportunity to respond to all of the factual allegations made by the plaintiff, normally by denying them. The defendant might also raise affirmative defenses, which could prevent the defendant from being held liable. For example, if the defendant is accused of battery, and he did, in fact, batter the plaintiff, he might admit to that fact, but claim that the plaintiff was the aggressor, and he acted purely in self-defense. If he can show that he acted in self-defense, he likely will not be held liable.

Discovery: After the complaint has been filed in the Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania court of competent jurisdiction, the next major phase is the discovery process. In a civil lawsuit, there are not supposed to be any surprises (so the dramatic moments you see in TV trials are largely fiction). This predictability largely comes from the discovery process. Each side of the lawsuit has to disclose information relevant to the lawsuit to the other. This information can be received by sending the other side written questions, which must be answered under oath, demanding access to documents, and deposing witnesses.

Trial: It is really quite rare for civil lawsuits in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in Wilkinsburg strongly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. However, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury decide 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 Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania Lawyer Help?

If you're facing any considerable legal issue in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, you can be pretty much certain that you'll face at least a few procedural complications that can hold up the process.

The rules of civil procedure in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania are not always simple or intuitive. With that in mind, it's very important to have a brilliant attorney on your side, to help you through the process.