When most people think of the American legal system, they probably think of a courtroom where lawyers argue their cases to the jury under the auspices of a judge. The media and entertainment industry has bombarded the viewing public with dramatic images of the law in action. However, television and the sliver screen only provide a mere glimpse into the actual stages of a lawsuit. Lawsuits may take years to resolve and usually do not end with a dramatic courtroom scene.
Often people get ensnared in the trap that deceitfully suggests that a trial is the ultimate answer to their legal problems. With this in mind, they seek out a lawyer who they believe is most likely to "win" the case rather than one who is most sensitive to the dispute and how it may be resolved. Some lawyers sell themselves on the basis that their skills and experience will "save the day" no matter what the facts are. The reality is that we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people, imperfect judges, imperfect juries, and yes - imperfect lawyers. In fact, most disputes come about as a result of two or more imperfect people engaging in an imperfect process.
Disputing parties should seek to resolve their dispute as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. The trial process as one of many means of reaching the client's goal of resolving disputes. In situations where there appears to be an opportunity to resolve a dispute by using means other than litigation, an attorney attempts to make use of the opportunity by developing strategies and making related recommendations to the client. The recommended strategy may or may not included relentless litigation.
The quickest way to resolve a dispute is the focus on the truth of the matter and endeavor to present the truth in a clear and most credible way. This approach often brings about a great amount of opposition. However, we believe that this approach is the one that is most likely to bring about the correct solution in the quickest manner.
Every client relationship at begins with an initial consultation. It is at this point that the lawyers at the firm:
- endeavor to ascertain the basic facts related to the case,
- assist the client in identifying the root and magnitude of their legal problem, and
- make initial recommendations concerning strategies for resolving the conflict.
The Beginning Stages
Once you believe you are involved in a situation that requires legal action, finding a lawyer who is:
- interested in the truth of your matter and
- knowledgeable and experienced is the area of your legal concern should be your first priority.
Pretrial Action
In most states, the filing a complaint officially starts a lawsuit. A complaint includes the facts of the situation showing a legal right and legal wrong. If the allegations asserted in the complaint fit into some established pattern of a right, then the case can continue. However, if the facts pleaded in the complaint do not match a legal cause of action, the complaint will be dismissed and the lawsuit will die. For example, in order to sue someone for breaching a contract, you must assert the existence of a contract relating specifically to the alleged conduct of the other party.
The defendant has several options as to how to respond to the plaintiff's complaint. For example, the defendant can deny the allegations set fourth in the complaint or can introduce defenses. He can also admit to the allegations in the complaint, either by specifically acknowledging their truth or by failing to deny them properly.
After the complaint has been filed and the defendant has entered his answers, the attorneys on both sides will enter into the discovery phase of the lawsuit. During discovery, the attorneys gather as much evidence as possible about the situation. The discovery phase of litigation serves several important purposes: it can be used to preserve evidence of witnesses who may not be available at trial; to reveal facts; and, to aid formulating the issues to be litigated. The discovery process is used as a method to uncovering the truth, crystallizing the evidence for trial, and setting the stage for settlement.
Depositions are one of the most useful discovery device. A deposition is a sworn pretrial testimony taken out of court in response to oral or written examination and put in writing for use in court. The other party has the opportunity to cross-examine the witness who was deposed during the questioning at trial. Furthermore, during the discovery phase parties can obtain access to documents and other items not in their possession. Discovery rules are liberal, allowing a great deal of evidence to be revealed. Depending on the complexity of the suit, the discovery phase may last a year or more.
Pretrial Conference
The pretrial conference presents yet another opportunity for settlement. The case comes together at the pretrial conference. At the pretrial conference, the attorneys talk informally with the judge and agree as to what are the disputed issues. Then, the attorneys share the evidence they intend to present and the witnesses they plan to call to testify during the trial. The judge and the attorneys are then able to plan the course of the trial. In complex litigation, many conferences may be required to give structure to the trial.
Resolution Without Trial
Many cases are disposed of before going to trial. Today, the trend is to settle the disputed issues without the use of a long, drawn out, unpredictable trial. For the settlement to officially end a lawsuit, both parties must agree to be bound by the terms of the settlement. Settlement is the favored way to resolve a legal dispute because parties are able to secure their own interests by taking an active role in designing the resolution. Another way to end a lawsuit prior to trial is through the use of summary judgment. Upon motion of one of the parties, a judge will enter a summary judgment in favor of the motioning party when that party shows there is no genuine legal issue that needs to be placed before a court and that the party can prevail solely on the facts of the case.
A case can also be terminated by the court's use of voluntary and involuntary dismissals. All judicial systems provide some means by which the plaintiff (the person who initiated the lawsuit) can voluntarily dismiss the case without the court's approval. This may occur when, upon further investigation, the plaintiff realizes that she does not really have a claim worth pursuing. A court can enter a involuntary dismissal upon a defendant's motion for dismissal on grounds that the plaintiff has not taken the appropriate steps to move the case to trial, such as not showing up at scheduled hearings or meetings. Involuntary dismissals are granted sparingly and only when a plaintiff has been particularly negligent and the delays have put the defendant at a disadvantage.
Trial
Assuming the case has proceeded through discovery and survived any pretrial motions, it will be placed on the court docket and a trial date will be assigned. With exception of the time spent picking a jury prior to trial, jury and non-jury trials follow the same general rules of order. Generally, the trial proceeds as follows. The plaintiff's attorney followed by the defendant's attorney each make opening statements, explaining what he or she intends to prove. The plaintiff's witnesses and evidence are introduced, examined and cross-examined. Then, the defendant's witnesses and evidence are introduced, examined and cross-examined. Finally, both the plaintiff and defendant are allowed to introduce rebuttal evidence. After all the evidence has been submitted, each side presents a closing argument summarizing the evidence most favorable to their party. The plaintiff makes the first closing statement and has a right of rebuttal after the defendant's closing argument
If it is a jury trial, the judge will instruct the jury as to the law that is to be applied. Generally, the judge requires the parties to submit possible jury instructions. While some states have standard instructions that must be used, other states allow the parties some input as to how the instructions will be worded. The jury then retreats to the jury room where they deliberate until a verdict is reached. In the case of deadlock, the judge must send the jury back to deliberate and if that does not break the deadlock, the judge must declare a mistrial. If the jury returns a verdict, the judge generally will enter a judgment on the verdict.
Recovering Judgments
Winning at trial does not necessarily resolve the legal issues if the primary goak is to recover money from the losing party. Once a judgment is entered, the winning party is entitled to the amount of the judgment. Prevailing parties may encounter problems when trying to recover the money from the losing party. The prevailing party may be forced to commence collection proceedings against the losing party. Therefore, the monetary damage award set out in the judgment does not necessarily reflect what the prevailing party will actually receive.
Appealing the Court's Decision
Trial decisions are not final. If a party is not satisfied with the results of his or her trial, an appeal of the judgment can be made. Although a party usually has the right to an appeal, there are usually strict time deadlines in which the appeal must commenced. Once a party files for appeal, the party will not be required to comply with the court's decision because an appeal acts like a freeze on the judgment. When considering an appeal, it is important to consult with an experienced appellate attorney, who will secure your appeal rights and your interests.
Conclusion
Today, many people are turning to legal system to help them settle disputes. However, much more time and procedure is involved in bringing a lawsuit than most people realize. The stages of a lawsuit can continue for years and even longer if the decision is appealed. Because the process is so complex, it is necessary to enlist a knowledgeable and experienced litigating attorney who has ample experience with your legal issues.