Litigation Lawyers in Brown Deer
In Brown Deer, Wisconsin, civil procedure is exactly what it sounds like: it refers to the rules that govern how civil litigation is conducted.
In Brown Deer, Wisconsin, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and cost-effective as possible.
Brown Deer, Wisconsin's civil procedure rules can get pretty complicated, however. They govern every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.
Major Brown Deer, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Issues
Complaint: When somebody believes that they have suffered a legal wrong in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and decide to file a lawsuit, the first document that they file with the court is usually the complaint. The complaint is very important, because it can frame the factual and legal issues, and set the tone, for the rest of the process. The complaint typically contains every factual allegation against the defendant that forms the basis of the plaintiff's lawsuit. It also contains a prayer for relief, in which the plaintiff lays out his or her desired remedies, if the court finds the defendant liable.
Answer: For the defendant, the answer is usually the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer typically denies most, or all, of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If the allegations are factually correct, and the defendant knows this, the defendant might admit that the allegations are true, but because of extenuating circumstances, they should not be held liable. For example, in a lawsuit for battery, a defendant might admit that they did strike the plaintiff, but claim that they were acting in self-defense, which would negate or weaken the plaintiff's case.
Discovery: Once the complaint and answer have been filed in a Brown Deer, Wisconsin court, the next major civil procedure issue comes up. Discovery is the process in which both sides of the lawsuit are required to disclose required 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 Brown Deer, Wisconsin to go to trial. Brown Deer's civil procedure rules actually discourage trials, and instead have designed the system so that it's almost always more cost-effective to settle out of court. However, if this is not possible, the matter will go to trial, where a judge and/or jury will determine the factual questions, and then award the appropriate relief (if any) to the prevailing party.
How Can a Brown Deer, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?
If you are dealing with a lawsuit in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, it's almost certain that you will have to deal with issues concerning civil procedure.
Civil Procedure in Brown Deer, Wisconsin can be pretty complicated. It's always a good idea to have a lawyer who can advise you on how best to deal with these civil procedure issues.