Simply stated, litigation is legal action. A person initiates litigation by bringing a lawsuit against a person or business. Lawsuits can either be criminal (those that are prosecuted by the state for violating a law) or civil (between individuals as the result of personal injury, slander, or similar claims).
Discovery and Evidence
Unless the case settles immediately, both the plaintiff and the defendant will begin the discovery process. During this time, both parties will submit written requests for relevant pieces of evidence in the case. The discovery process can be lengthy, depending on the circumstances of the case. Once discovery has concluded, the parties can take the evidence to trial.
Trial
During the trial, both the plaintiff and the defendant will present evidence that is relevant to each party’s side of the case to the judge or jury. Witnesses may also be called to testify. The judge or jury will then render a verdict in favor of either the plaintiff or defendant.
Settlement
In some instances, the parties are able to come to an agreement outside of the courtroom. A settlement can be reached before or during the trial.
Advocacy
At The Law Place, we prepare each case as if we will be going to trial. When the plaintiff or prosecutor knows that we will not back down, our clients reap the benefits. Many of the attorneys at our firm are former prosecutors who know how to navigate Florida’s complicated legal system from both sides.
To learn more about litigation in Florida and how we can help you with your case, call The Law Place today.