Staunton, Virginia Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Staunton

In Staunton, Virginia, civil procedure is precisely what it sounds like: it refers to the laws that control how civil litigation is done.

The rules of civil procedure in Staunton, Virginia are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, low-cost, simple, and fair as possible.

Civil litigation, however, is inherently complicated. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Staunton, Virginia are also going to be somewhat confusing and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Staunton, Virginia Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The initial, and perhaps most significant, part of filing a lawsuit in Staunton, Virginia is the complaint. The complaint is filed with the court in Staunton, Virginia that's responsible for handling civil trials. It lists everything that the plaintiff (the person who is suing) alleges against the defendant (the person the plaintiff is suing). Typically, but not always, the end of the complaint will contain a "prayer for relief." The prayer for relief is just a statement of what the plaintiff is asking the court to do to remedy the harm that the defendant allegedly caused.

Answer: After the plaintiff files the complaint, the defendant has to act. While they have a few avenues 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. Occasionally, 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 complaint and answer have been filed in a Staunton, Virginia court, the next major civil procedure issue comes up. Discovery is the procedure in which both sides of the lawsuit are obligated to disclose obligated evidence to one another. The lawyers for each side can submit written questions, which the other party is required to answer under oath, unless the information is privileged. Each side can also request any relevant documents, physical evidence, and can conduct depositions of witnesses and parties to the lawsuit.

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

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

Civil Procedure in Staunton, Virginia can be pretty confusing. It's always a good idea to have a lawyer who can advise you on how best to deal with these civil procedure issues.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Staunton

The city of Staunton is located in Augusta County, Virginia. It is a relatively older community comprised of about 23,000 residents. It was incorporated in 1871. Staunton was first settled by merchants, and its economic beginnings can be traced to the fields of trade, industry, and transportation. The city is locally known for being the birthplace of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.

Currently Staunton is an ideal tourist destination, as it has five separate districts with many sights to see. The arts and culture contribute greatly to Staunton's atmosphere, as can be seen by the American Shakespeare Center. The Center is home to the only replica of Shakespeare's Blackfriars Theatre in existence. Strict building codes have preserved much of Staunton's unique early-American architecture. This makes it a popular location for film and T.V. settings.

Staunton residents can enjoy many of the city's outdoor festivals and parades, such as the 4th of July Celebration. Country music is a favorite for many locals, as the city has produced many top-notch artists. The city is a genuine reservoir of American culture and history. Besides President Woodrow Wilson, Staunton has been the hometown of several lawyers, senators, and legislators throughout history.

Staunton lawyers typically file their cases at the Staunton General District Court located in the city. Many lawyers in Staunton, Virginia frequently participate in the city's many community service and outreach programs.

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