Civil litigation encompasses a wide range of lawsuits over legal disputes between individuals, organizations, or both. Whether the conflict is over a breached contract or a debated property line with a neighbor, civil litigation can be extremely complicated, stressful, and difficult. If you are considering filing a civil lawsuit, working with a Charlottesville civil litigation lawyer can help ease the process and boost your chances of a successful outcome.
Working with our Charlottesville law firm ensures that you have some of Virginia’s best legal representatives on your side. MartinWren, P.C. has won numerous awards including Virginia Lawyers Weekly recognition that we were responsible for three of the fourteen largest verdicts in Virginia for all of 2023. We are dedicated to working with you closely with uncompromising quality and assistance in all of your litigation needs.
Understanding Civil Litigation
Civil litigation is a legal process where a plaintiff files a lawsuit against a defendant to enforce or defend their legal rights. The end goal of civil cases is typically a specific remedy such as financial compensation or the performance of actions. Filing a civil lawsuit is separate from any potentially pending criminal charges and will not involve the types of penalties that those cases provide.
The civil litigation process always begins with the plaintiff or their legal representative filing a complaint with their local court system that includes details regarding the damages or injuries, evidence of how the defendant was involved, a jury demand, and requests for the court’s action. A copy of this is then served to the defendant, and should the court agree to the case, they will move to the next step of discovery. The discovery phase allows both sides to gather evidence, exchange relevant documents, and may involve verbal deposition.
The next step will then be either an attempt at alternative dispute resolution or a trial in front of a judge and/or jury who will hear both sides of the argument and then determine the appropriate outcome. If the case is ruled in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant will then be required to pay a settlement or take the actions predetermined by the civil lawsuit. Working with a Charlottesville civil litigation lawyer can help you understand the options you have regarding your civil disputes, including alternatives to bringing the case to court.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
Types of Civil Litigation
Civil litigation spans a wide variety of non-criminal lawsuits, including breach of contract, property disputes, real estate litigation, will disputes, estate litigation,, business disputes, and various other legal disputes. Virginia Rules, a resource from the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, overviews civil law basics, and states that civil cases are typically private matters relating to property, commerce, and administrative matters. A successful outcome will include paying damages or taking action to remedy a problem. Some examples of civil litigation cases include:
- Breach of contract
- Class action lawsuits
- Contesting a will or the appointment of an executor
- Foreclosures
- Intellectual property claims
- Landlord-tenant law
- Property damage
- Slander, libel, and defamation
- Torts
As there is such a wide variety of case topics, you will want to work with a skilled and knowledgeable Charlottesville civil litigation attorney to ensure your case gets the best possible representation. At MartinWren, P.C., we work with you to develop a unique case strategy to best advocate for your behalf in the pursuit of an ideal verdict. Our Charlottesville verdicts & settlements show the successful civil litigation cases we have settled for our clients.
Alternatives to Civil Litigation
Pursuing civil litigation does not always end up in a courtroom. Your civil litigation lawyer in Charlottesville may advise you to consider offering alternatives to civil litigation to the defense, with the chance that they will want to settle using one of these methods instead of spending time and money going to court. Some alternatives to civil litigation include arbitration, mediation, and negotiation.
Many civil cases begin with negotiation, often with expert help from your civil litigation attorney in Charlottesville. Direct negotiation with civil cases such as personal injury can result in a successful settlement for the injured party, especially when the at-fault party does not want to draw public attention to its actions. Mediation acts much like negotiation but facilitates it through an impartial third party using special negotiation and communication techniques to assist in the resolution.
Arbitration is yet another alternative to taking your case to court but involves dispute resolution by a neutral third party making a final judgment on the case. This is a binding decision just as a courtroom verdict would be. Speak with your Charlottesville civil litigation attorney to see if arbitration or any of these other alternatives may be right for your case.
How a Civil Litigation Attorney in Charlottesville Can Help
A civil litigation attorney will assist with your case in many ways, overseeing the legal process, keeping communication flowing between parties, gathering supporting evidence, and fighting for the best possible outcome of your case. They will begin by listening to your case and developing an approach, whether going directly to trial or attempting negotiation with the at-fault parties for a settlement. Once this is determined, they will send a demand letter or file a lawsuit, sending the liable party a strong message that you deserve justice.
Once the discovery phase has begun, your legal team will work to gather evidence to support your case, including any documents, eyewitness statements, photographic or video evidence, and any additional support their investigation uncovers. A civil litigation lawyer in Charlottesville will then present their case along with all of that evidence to the court and make your appeal to the judge and/or jury. Check out our civil and commercial litigation FAQs for more information on common questions we receive, or contact us directly for a free consultation.
Charlottesville Civil Litigation Lawyer Near Me 434-817-3100
Contact MartinWren, P.C. for Help with Your Civil Litigation Today
Our team is ready to get to work on your case today. We will fight for your rightful settlement or verdict in your civil case and ensure that you get justice. Contact our team to set up a free case consultation by calling or completing our case evaluation form online.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
