Litigation Lawyers in River Falls

In River Falls, Wisconsin, civil procedure is precisely what it sounds like: it refers to the rules that govern how civil litigation is conducted.

In River Falls, Wisconsin, the civil procedure rules are meant to ensure that the civil litigation system is as efficient, accessible, fair, and cost-effective as possible.

River Falls, Wisconsin's civil procedure rules can get pretty intricate, however. They regulate every aspect of a civil action, from the filing of the complaint, to discovery, and all the way through trial and appeals.

Major River Falls, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: In River Falls, Wisconsin the first step in suing somebody (after speaking with a lawyer to determine if you have a case) is typically filing a complaint. The complaint is also one of the most important 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 typically the first document that the defendant files, and it is meant to serve as a direct response to the plaintiff's complaint. It typically denies all of the plaintiff's major allegations. It might also lay out affirmative defenses. An "affirmative defense" is a set of circumstances 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 proven, it would negate, or mitigate, his liability to the plaintiff.

Discovery: Once both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next process in civil litigation in River Falls, Wisconsin is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is required 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 River Falls, Wisconsin, it is truly extremely rare for civil lawsuits to make it this far. Civil procedure in River Falls is designed to encourage early settlement of cases, or dismissal of cases that don't have any legal or factual merit. However, 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 River Falls, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

If you're suing someone, or are being sued, in River Falls, Wisconsin, dealing with issues of civil procedure is going to be a fact of life for quite some time.

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