Filing a Lawsuit in Oak Harbor, Washington

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Litigation Lawyers in Oak Harbor

Residents of Oak Harbor, Washington who suffer legal wrongs are normally legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is normally obtained by filing a lawsuit.

If you wish to file a lawsuit, there are many things you need to consider, and the decision to sue someone should not be made without the counsel of an Oak Harbor, Washington civil litigation attorney.

Once you have retained an attorney in Oak Harbor, Washington, he or she will be able to help you devise a strategy on how to proceed, which will hopefully maximize your chances of success in your lawsuit. Your lawyer can also provide you a rough idea of how much the lawsuit is likely to cost, taking into account court fees, expert witness fees, and other costs.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Oak Harbor, Washington

Consultation with your attorney: You should always speak with an Oak Harbor, Washington lawyer who specializes in civil litigation before filing any type of lawsuit in a court in Oak Harbor, Washington. 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 Oak Harbor, Washington, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the initial thing you normally have to do is draft a complaint. The complaint is a document that contains all of the allegations you're making against the defendant (the person whom you are suing). It normally must allege all of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action, though in some systems, very few facts are strictly required to be alleged. It also usually has, at the end, a "prayer" (request) for relief. This final section tells the court what type of relief the plaintiff wants, should the court rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving The Defendant: Once you, or your lawyer, have drafted a complaint, the defendant must be served with it, so they have notice that they're being sued, and are given time to prepare a defense. Oak Harbor, Washington has certain rules governing how a complaint must be served, for the service to be valid. Personal service (having someone give the documents directly to the defendant) is preferred. However, some courts will also accept service by mail in limited circumstances, or service upon an adult member of the defendant's household.

Await the Response: The defendant in Oak Harbor, Washington has an chance to respond to the allegations against them. They have many options in how they respond to a lawsuit. They can move to dismiss the case (arguing that, even if everything the complaint alleges is true, they would still not be liable for anything), or they can file with the court, and serve upon the plaintiff an answer. An answer is a point-by-point disposal of every allegation against the defendant. The defendant can admit the allegations, deny them, or claim that they do not have enough information to admit or deny them (which essentially operates as a denial). Normally, the defendant will admit the inconsequential allegations, so they don't have to be litigated (if the lawsuit is about a car accident involving the plaintiff and defendant, they'll probably go ahead and admit that the accident took place), but deny any allegation that could establish liability, if true (they'll deny responsibility for the car accident, for example). If the defendant does not respond by the deadline, they will have a default judgment entered against them, and automatically lose the case.

How Can A Oak Harbor, Washington Tort Lawyer Help?

This simple outline is meant to give you a basic idea of what goes into filing a lawsuit in Oak Harbor, Washington, but it is by no means a comprehensive guide.

Thus, if you want to file a lawsuit against someone in Oak Harbor, Washington, you should not delay to talk with an attorney, who will be able to advise you on the best way to proceed.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor, Washington is a city in Island County, Washington. It is physically located on Whidbey Island, which is about 30 miles north of Seattle, and just off Puget Sound. Oak Harbor currently has a population of approximately 20,000 people.

Oak Harbor was incorporated in 1915. The history of Oak Harbor dates back to the mid 1800s, when 3 settlers staked claims in the area, which roughly coincide with the boundaries of the current city. Early settlers were largely from Norway and Sweden, giving the city a distinctive Scandinavian feel.

Oak Harbor is home to a major military installation - the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. This base is home to thousands of personnel, and is a major source of jobs and outside money for Oak Harbor, and the other communities in Whidbey Island.

The community is also home to one of the Pacific Northwest's major scenic landmarks: the Deception Pass Bridge, which connects Whidbey Island with Fidalgo Island.

Thanks to its proximity to Seattle, and its diverse population, there are many lawyers in and around Oak Harbor, Washington who are ready to handle virtually any legal issue that you might have. If you need legal advice, you should contact an Oak Harbor, Washington attorney as soon as possible.

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