Find a Litigation & Appeals Lawyer

The process of engaging in legal action is known as litigation. If either party is dissatisfied with the outcome of the litigation, they may seek an appeal, which is the act of requesting that a higher court reverse a lower court's decision. Before entering into litigation, you should know what to expect, especially in the event that your case ends up being appealed. Litigation – What to Expect Prior to entering into any form of litigation, you should have some idea of the stages involved along the way. Stage one centers around the initial demand that Party A makes to Party B in order to resolve the dispute. This is followed by Party B's response and often some informal discussion. A lawyer can help determine whether your demands at this stage are realistic and can also help prevent you from making admissions that may damage your case. Stage two usually involves a lawyer's letter, which puts a formal “spin” on the situation when the parties are unable to resolve the dispute on their own, especially when one party has been negligent in responding to the demands of the other. There may not be any legal significance to such a letter, but it sends a serious message, and since some states require a formal demand be made before you file suit, it can be helpful in that regard as well. Continued... By Lindsay Rech