Litigation Lawyers in Ashwaubenon

In Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, 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 Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, inexpensive, simple, and fair as possible.

In Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, 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 Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin 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 normally the first document that the defendant files, and it is meant to serve as a direct response to the plaintiff's complaint. It normally denies all of the plaintiff's major allegations. It might also lay out affirmative defenses. An "affirmative defense" is a set of reasons that negate the defendant's liability even if their conduct would ordinarily be unlawful. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that he struck the plaintiff, but claim that he acted in self-defense. If that can be shown, it would negate, or mitigate, his liability to the plaintiff.

Discovery: Once the complaint and answer have been filed in an Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin 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: Although the trial is arguably the most dramatic element of civil procedure in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, it is really very rare for civil lawsuits to make it this far. Civil procedure in Ashwaubenon 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 Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

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

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