Litigation Lawyers in Sturtevant

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

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

Civil litigation, however, is inherently difficult. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Sturtevant, Wisconsin are also going to be somewhat convoluted and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Sturtevant, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: Perhaps the most important part of filing a lawsuit in Sturtevant, Wisconsin is the complaint. The complaint is a document filed with a Sturtevant, Wisconsin court that lays out the plaintiff's (the person filing the suit) allegations against the defendant (the person being sued), as well as the relief that the plaintiff is seeking from the court.

Answer: For the defendant, the answer is normally the first document they file in a lawsuit. As the name suggests, it "answers" the plaintiff's complaint. The answer usually 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: After the complaint has been filed in the Sturtevant, Wisconsin court of competent jurisdiction, the next major phase is the discovery process. In a civil lawsuit, there are not supposed to be any surprises (so the dramatic moments you see in TV trials are largely fiction). This predictability largely comes from the discovery process. Each side of the lawsuit has to disclose information relevant to the lawsuit to the other. This information can be received by sending the other side written questions, which must be answered under oath, demanding access to documents, and deposing witnesses.

Trial: It is really quite rare for civil lawsuits in Sturtevant, Wisconsin to go to trial, since the rules of civil procedure in Sturtevant strongly encourage early resolution to cases by dismissal of lawsuits that have no merit, and negotiated settlement of those that do. However, when neither of those things happen, the case goes to trial. This is when a judge and jury decide the questions of law and fact, respectively, raised in the case. The jury then issues a verdict, based on the evidence presented to them.

How Can a Sturtevant, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

If you're facing any considerable legal issue in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, you can be pretty much certain that you'll face at least a few procedural complications that can hold up the process.

It should go without saying that you should have a Sturtevant, Wisconsin attorney on hand to deal with any civil procedure issues that you're almost certain to face, if you're immersed in a lawsuit.