Litigation Lawyers in Wauwatosa

Residents of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin who suffer legal wrongs are usually legally entitled to compensation for harm they incurred as a result. This compensation is usually obtained by filing a lawsuit.

If you're considering filing a lawsuit, there are many things you need to consider, and it is not a decision to be made lightly. You should not file a lawsuit without seeking the advice of a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin civil litigation attorney first.

Once you hire a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin litigation attorney, he or she will be able to advise you on your chances of succeeding in your lawsuit. Furthermore, your lawyer can inform you on what a lawsuit is likely to cost, both in time and money. Obviously, your lawyer has some control over what it will cost you, based on their fees, and whether they bill an hourly rate, or charge on a contingency rate.

Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Consultation With Your Attorney: Before filing any lawsuit in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, you should speak with a local attorney. Your Wauwatosa, Wisconsin attorney will be able to advise you on the merits of your lawsuit, and your chances of success.

Drafting the complaint: In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, once you have decided to file a lawsuit, the first thing you usually have to do is draft a complaint. The complaint is a document that contains all of the allegations you're making against the defendant (the person whom you are suing). It usually must allege all of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action, though in some systems, very few facts are strictly required to be alleged. It also typically has, at the end, a "prayer" (request) for relief. This final section tells the court what type of relief the plaintiff wants, should the court rule in the plaintiff's favor.

Serving the Defendant: When you have decided that you want to file a lawsuit in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and have drafted the complaint, your next major step is to file the complaint with the court, and serve it on the defendant. The defendant must be given at least several weeks' notice that they're being sued, and as much time to review the complaint. This is a matter of basic fairness and due process, and allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and get to work on a defense. The law requires that the defendant be served in a few specific ways. The first choice is to give it to them in person. This has to be done by a person who does not have any direct involvement in the lawsuit. If that isn't possible, the defendant can be served by giving the complaint to another adult member of their household; this is called substituted service.

Await Defendant's Response: In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, the law gives civil defendants a fairly long period of time (a month or two usually) to respond to a lawsuit against them. The most common response is either an answer (where they address the factual allegations against them, usually denying most or all of the allegations) or a motion to dismiss (where the contend that, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, those facts would not establish liability). If the defendant does nothing, and fails to respond, they run the risk of having a default judgment entered against them. This usually means that the court automatically rules against them, treating the plaintiff as if they won the lawsuit. This gives the plaintiff a judgment against the defendant, which they can seek to collect using all legal means.

How Can A Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Tort Lawyer Help?

As you can see, it can be a complicated and difficult process to file a lawsuit in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and it is, in fact, much more complicated than the basic outline you just read.

Therefore, it is crucial that you consult a qualified civil litigation attorney before you file any type of lawsuit in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.