Civil litigation can have drastic impacts on everyone involved. These cases can be very complex and due to the immense financial and personal implications, it is best to have the support of a civil suit lawyer near me.
What is Civil Litigation?
Civil litigation is a broad term that generally refers to any case that is not specifically criminal in nature. Common civil suits include:
- Personal Property Disagreements
- Breach of Contract Disputes
- Trademark and Intellectual Property Disputes
- Landlord/Tenant Disputes
- Shareholder/Partnership Disputes
How it Works
There are several stages to a civil suit. First, the investigation phase. This is when the attorney can explore the case in detail and create a strategy for the case. A civil suit lawyer can file pleadings to commence a lawsuit or respond to a previously filed suit and motions to request an order from the Court for the case to be dismissed or stayed.
Next is the discovery stage. This is often the lengthiest part of the civil suit process. Attorneys from both parties will take depositions, issue subpoenas, and submit interrogatories and request for production of documents, interview witnesses and review documents.
Finally, the trial. It is often possible to resolve the legal dispute through an out of court settlement agreement. If not, the case will go to trial. During a trial, both sides present their cases before a judge or jury who enters a final judgement based on the evidence. A civil suit lawyer can give you the best advice on how to proceed with your case.
Dispute Resolution Alternatives
Civil litigation does not have to go to court. In fact, most do not. While a court trial is always an option, there are several alternative methods of dispute resolution. These are often faster, cheaper and allow both parties some control over the outcome. They also allow both parties to maintain much more privacy than a court trial would.
Sometimes a case can be solved quickly and efficiently through a private negotiation or mediation. If this fails, a court trial can still be avoided through arbitration.
Updated Civil Suit Limits in 2021
Currently, the general district court handles civil matters valued less than $25,000 but a bill has been introduced to raise these limits. Once signed, the general district courts will have jurisdiction over civil matters up to $50,000 in value.
Why It Matters
First, this bill will alleviate the stress on Circuit Courts by allowing more new cases to be filed in the general district court and allowing existing cases to be transferred down. COVID slowed down many things within the courts but particularly circuit courts. Starting July 1, 2021, the general district court will be able to take some of the case load, things will speed up.
Civil Suit Lawyer Near Me
The value of a skilled, experienced civil suit lawyer should not be underestimated. A civil suit lawyer can handle ever aspect of the litigation process from the investigation and gathering evidence to ensuring that you pursue the best method of resolving the dispute.
For more information, contact King Campbell Poretz & Mitchell today. We are a full-service law firm located near Alexandria, VA and Leesburg, VA. The types of cases we handle involve federal crimes, DUI, injury law, family law and trust & estate law. We serve Northern Virginia, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County and Marlyand. Nosotras hablamos español.