Find a Litigation & Appeals Lawyer Continued…

The next step is generally focused on the pre-litigation settlement discussion, which is an informal discussion involving both parties and their attorneys. If nothing is resolved during the pre-litigation settlement discussion, you now have the option to either file suit or make a demand for arbitration, which differs from a conventional lawsuit in that the dispute is settled outside of the court system by an impartial third party or panel. At this point, the formal litigation process has officially begun and there are specified time limits governing the amount of time you have to take action. During the next phase of litigation, the party that is served with legal process must provide a formal response within a designated time frame or otherwise lose its case by default. The next stage may consist of some pre-trial discovery, or in other words, gathering of evidence by both parties in order to ascertain what led to the dispute. This evidence may include witness testimony, carefully examined documentation, and even physical evidence. Next, either side may make "motions," the purpose of which is to narrow the issues or even have the court or arbitrator decide the case without taking it to trial. Just before the trial, the court or arbitrator will call for a pre-trial conference in order to further narrow down the issues and, perhaps, get the parties to agree to a settlement. The next step is the actual trial, either by judge alone or with a jury. In arbitration, the trial is referred to as a hearing. A variety of factors will determine the length of this stage. But eventually, you will hear your judgment. If you feel the outcome of your case is inappropriate, you may pursue an appeal. Appealing Your Case Most decisions of a trial court are subject to review by an appeals court. In the event that you do decide to appeal your case, be prepared for a completely different process than you faced during your trial. For one, there is no jury in an appeal. Juries are often present during trials to weigh the facts, while judges are present to determine the law. Since the appeals court is expected to accept the facts as they were accepted in the original trial, there is no need for a jury. In the same respect, there is no need for the lawyers to present witnesses or other forms of evidence. The appeal is merely a review of the trial court's application of the law. And while only one judge presides over a trial, several judges hear an appeal at once. An appeal is a more scholarly process than a trial. Central to each party's case is the appellate brief. Referencing applicable case law and statutes, the losing party uses this brief to argue that the trial judge applied the law incorrectly, while the victorious party maintains in their brief that the trial court's decision was correct. Though appeals do include a short period for oral argument, judges often use this period to ask the lawyers questions that have been prompted by the briefs. A party that loses its case in a state or federal appeals court may still appeal to the state supreme court or the U.S. Supreme Court, though review in these courts is discretionary as they receive more requests for review than they can handle. If you do decide to appeal your case, remember that the course of an appeal is a lengthy one and your best chances of success rest with hiring an experienced appellate attorney. By Lindsay Rech