Amanda Zaluckyj - Thursday February 23, 2023
As U.S. Naval captain David Porter once said, “litigation is the basic legal right which guarantees every corporation its decade in court.” Jokes aside, litigation can be a complex, confusing, and occasionally a long-term endeavor. So we’re going to define litigation, explain its basic process, and explain what to do if you find yourself involved in it.
Litigation is essentially the process of filing, contesting, and resolving disputes through the court system. Litigation covers any civil dispute, which can range from insurance fraud to disputing a speeding ticket. It involves two or more parties:
Many people automatically assume that litigation means that the case will end in a jury trial While litigation involves court proceedings and the occasional hearing, it doesn’t always. In fact, the majority of cases never make it that far, usually because the parties settle their differences outside of court. And even if the case does go to court, much of the litigation process occurs before the jury is impaneled.
While each case looks different, all litigation follows the same procedure.
This is the process where both parties collect more information about the case. This is often the longest step of the litigation process.
Depending on if the parties reach a settlement, summary judgment, take the case to trial, or go all the way to an appeal, the litigation process could last several weeks or even several years.
The first step is to find a qualified litigator. It’s important to note that while all litigators are lawyers, not all lawyers are litigators. There are various practice areas in law, many of them not involving litigation.
Having a qualified litigator on your side to help guide you through the process is critical to a successful case—one that hopefully gets resolved quickly!
The experienced litigators at Athora are here to take on your every litigation need to help ensure you receive the best possible outcome. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!