Litigation Lawyers in Ishpeming

If you live in Ishpeming, Michigan and think that you might be the victim of a legal wrong, you may decide that it's worth suing over, to recover compensation from the person who wronged you.

If you are contemplating filing a lawsuit, you should know that there are many factors that need to be considered before doing so. You should definitely contact a knowledgeable attorney from Ishpeming, Michigan before you proceed.


Steps for Filing a Lawsuit in Ishpeming, Michigan

Consultation with your attorney: Before you file a lawsuit in a Ishpeming, Michigan court, you need to meet and confer with a local lawyer. You lawyer in Ishpeming, Michigan can advise you on whether or not your lawsuit has merit, and how likely it is to succeed.

Drafting a Complaint: Once you have decided to go through with filing a lawsuit in a Ishpeming, Michigan court, you need to draft a complaint, with the help of your lawyer. A complaint is typically the first step in actually filing a lawsuit. The complaint is the plaintiff's first opportunity to lay out the allegations against the defendant. If a complaint doesn't allege facts that add up to a valid lawsuit (that is, even if everything alleged in the complaint is true, the defendant has still not committed a legal wrong that the court can compensate), the case will have to be dismissed. When a case is dismissed for this reason, the court typically gives the plaintiff a chance to re-submit the complaint, with the errors corrected.


Await Defendant's Response: When you have served the defendant with the complaint in Ishpeming, Michigan, the defendant has time to respond. The most prevalent response is known as an "answer," in which they specifically address the factual allegations you've made against them, typically by denying most of the allegations. They might also move to dismiss the case if they can argue that the complaint is legally flawed. A judge then has to rule on this motion. If the defendant doesn't respond within a given period of time, they are said to have "defaulted." This allows the court to enter a default judgment, in which the plaintiff essentially automatically wins the lawsuit. Once this happens, the defendant, if they're ever located, can be served with the judgment, and will have very little power to challenge the merits of your case.

How Can A Ishpeming, Michigan Tort Lawyer Help?

The basic outline above does not come close to covering all the details involved in filing a lawsuit in Ishpeming, Michigan.

If you have suffered a legal wrong in and decide to sue the person who you believed wronged you, you should speak with a qualified Ishpeming, Michigan attorney.