Charleston, West Virginia Civil Procedures

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Litigation Lawyers in Charleston

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

In Charleston, West Virginia, 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 Charleston, West Virginia 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 Charleston, West Virginia Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The complaint is probably the most important document that the plaintiff will file in a Charleston, West Virginia lawsuit, and it is normally the first. The complaint contains all of the plaintiff's allegations against the defendant, as well as the relief that the plaintiff is asking the court to provide. Thus, it can frame the tone, as well as the legal and factual issues, that will dominate the rest of the case.

Answer: The answer is a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer normally contains a few things: usually, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will normally raise legal defenses, known as affirmative defenses, arguing that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the defendant should not be held liable, because of extenuating circumstances.

Discovery: Once the initial documents have been filed by both parties in the correct Charleston, West Virginia court, the discovery process begins. "Discovery" refers to a wide range of disclosures that each side of the lawsuit must make to the other. Essentially, everyone involved in the lawsuit has to disclose every piece of information in their possession (with some exceptions) that's relevant to the factual issues in the case. There are a few different methods that are employed in this process: each side can send written questions to the other, which must be answered under oath. They can further request documents, as well as access to physical evidence. They can also conduct depositions (in-person Q&A sessions) of parties and witnesses.

Trial: it's really very uncommon for lawsuits to go trial in Charleston, West Virginia, because the rules of civil procedure in Charleston, and nearly everywhere else, encourage speedy resolution of legal disputes, before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. This is largely accomplished by judges dismissing cases that clearly have no merit, or the parties settling out of court. However, when neither of these things is possible, both sides of the lawsuit will have to hash it out in a trial, which can be the most stressful and expensive step in the process. It involves both sides of the case presenting their evidence and arguments to a jury and judge, and letting them decide the issues.

How Can a Charleston, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you're facing a lawsuit in Charleston, West Virginia whether as the plaintiff or defendant, you will have to deal with your jurisdiction's civil procedure rules.

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

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Charleston

Charleston is the capital of West Virginia. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400 people. Surrounding areas include the rest of Kanawha County, Elk River, and Kanawha River.

Top employers include Appalachian Power, Mountaineer Gas Company, Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing, MATRIC, NiSource Gas Transmission Storage, Walker Machinery, West Virginia-American Water Company, and Frontier Communication. To support such large corporations, the legal force in Charleston is well-equipped with many attorneys who are familiar with business law. Further, the legal force is also capable of handling the needs of local residents.

Famous past residents include Jean Carson, Conchata Ferrell, Allison Hayes, Ann Magnuson, Randy Moss, Leslie Nielsen, Jerry West, Jason Williams, and Booker T. Washington.

When next in Charleston, be sure to check out popular attractions such as the Avampato Discovery Museum, Sunrise Museum, the Capitol Theater, South Charleston Museum, Appalachian Power Park, Danner Meadow Park, Coonskin Park, Ruffner Park and Shawnee Park.

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