Litigation Lawyers in University Place

In University Place, Washington, civil procedure is clearly what it sounds like: it refers to the laws that control how civil litigation is done.

The rules of civil procedure in University Place, Washington are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, inexpensive, simple, and fair as possible.

In University Place, Washington, civil litigation is frequently extremely difficult. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that the rules of civil procedure can also be fairly intricate. After all, they govern everything from the first document filed by the plaintiff, to the last ruling issued by an appeals court.

Major University Place, Washington Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In University Place, Washington the initial step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is normally filing a complaint. The complaint is also one of the most significant documents in the civil litigation process. By laying out the wrongs that the plaintiff alleges the defendant has committed, as well as the remedies that the plaintiff wants the court to provide, it can set the tone for the entire rest of the case.

Answer: The answer is a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer normally contains a few things: usually, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will normally 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: Once both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next procedure in civil litigation in University Place, Washington is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is obligated by law to disclose relevant information to the other side. These disclosures come in the form of depositions, the production of documents, and answers to written questions submitted by opposing counsel.

Trial: Although the trial is arguably the most dramatic element of civil procedure in University Place, Washington, it is really very rare for civil lawsuits to make it this far. Civil procedure in University Place is designed to encourage early settlement of cases, or dismissal of cases that don't have any legal or factual merit. Nonetheless, in the rare cases when the case is not dismissed, and the parties can't reach a settlement, the matter will go to trial. A trial is the most visible aspect of civil litigation, and it is the stage when all of the legal and factual questions raised by both parties are resolved by a judge and jury, respectively.

How Can a University Place, Washington Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any sort in University Place, Washington, you are going to face civil procedure issues.

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