Civil Litigation Attorney in California

Civil litigation is a generic term for the official legal process triggered when someone accuses an individual or entity of harming him or her in some way. The harmful conduct may or may not involve the commission of a crime and generally results in financial, physical, and/or emotional losses. The aggrieved party, called the plaintiff, sues the accused (defendant) to obtain compensation for the losses, or damages. 

In Los Angeles, civil litigation matters include but are not limited to personal injury claims, made after someone is hurt in a car accident, truck accident, or slip and fall accident; contract disputes (usually breach of contract); and business disputes. 

Although there are different types of civil litigation, the steps involved are usually the same. First: each party states its case in certain legal documents. The plaintiff gives their version of what happened in the complaint and the defendant responds to the accusations in his or her answer. Additional documents may be filed in some cases. Next: each side gathers as much information about the other’s legal arguments as possible through a process called discovery. This includes additional investigation, interviews and exchange of written information. If attempts to settle the matter are unsuccessful, the matter then goes to trial. 

This is a good question. Lots of people who come to our Los Angeles office ask us about this. Unfortunately there is no standard answer. Several factors affect the amount of time needed to resolve civil matters in California. Some of these factors are the type of case and how many people are involved.. The court where the civil litigation is heard also influences how long it takes to conclude civil litigation. 

This is another good question with no universal answer. Since every case is different, the cost will vary accordingly. However, as LA civil litigation attorneys, we know numerous factors affect cost. These are: how we bill you (hourly rates v. contingency); the type and circumstances of your case; the amount of time needed to settle or otherwise resolve your case; court costs incurred; and the costs associated with drafting various legal documents.