AVOID CIVIL LITIGATION

 

I have represented clients in a variety of civil areas of law, including personal injury, land use, probate, defamation and contract disputes.

 

Litigation begins with a writ, summons and complaint, which is usually served by a state marshal on the defendant or defendants.  The lawyers involved then begin filing motions according to the order set out in the Connecticut Practice Book.  These motions may require the plaintiff to revise or amend the complaint, or there may be legal issues that are argued by the lawyers on front of a judge.  Then information gathering, known as discovery, begins.  Discovery can take the form of written questions, known interrogatories, or the exchange of documents by the parties, physical examinations, depositions of parties and witnesses.  This process can be lengthy and very expensive.  The court dockets are crowded and the judges and court staff are over burdened with the management of so many pending cases.  If the matter does not settle out of court, or after a pre trial conference with a judge, the case is eventually tried before a judge, known as a courtside trial, or to a jury.  This process may take years from start to finish.

 

 As a result, I have encouraged all of my clients to settle their conflicts as soon as possible, thereby saving time, money and stress for everyone concerned.