Thursday, June 11, 2009

A Civil Litigation Attorney

This is the lawyer that represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil law cases. In other words when some is sued or being sued over an incident or ideal where one party or the other is using legal means to compel another to perform an action or pay an amount for some sort of damages or wrong they feel has been committed.

The duties of a civil litigation attorney include:

Conducting Discovery which is the search for information pertaining to the case such as evidence and seeking out witnesses who can testify for their client. This is also when opposing attorneys exchange information about the case. The devices or methods used in discovery are interrogatories, requests for production of documents, personal depositions, requests for admissions, and requests for inspection of articles.

Pre Trial, which is the wrapping up of discovery and formulating the strategy needed to win the case such as physical evidence. This is also the time when motions to dismiss are composed to be presented to the court.

Conduct settlement offers if requested by their client. Very few civil cases go to trial because a settlement can usually be agreed upon before trial begins.

Trial is where this attorney really should shine. Here, they select a jury, give opening and closing statements, examine and cross examine witnesses and build a convincing story for the judge or jury.

If the civil case doesn't go favorably, there is something called an appeal that can be made by the lawyer on the clients behalf. If successful in appeal, a unfavorable decision can be overturned.

Tim Davis is the webmaster for Chuck Pope who is an experienced attorney in Civil Litigation cases and practices in McMinn, Meigs, Polk, and Monroe Counties and his offices are located in Athens, Tennessee. His web address is http://popelaw.org.

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