Civil Litigation
Your civil litigation needs—resolved.
If you’re facing a civil litigation issue, you probably have a lot of questions. You don’t have to find answers on your own. We take our role as our client’s advocate seriously.
We’re committed to helping you find the best path forward for you, whether it be mediation, arbitration, or trial.
When we represent you, you can rely on our:
Sharp problem-solving skills — We investigate all routes to a resolution, determined to find you the most effective and efficient resolution possible.
Extensive litigation experience — The team at Eyet Law has years of litigation experience that we bring to each case.
Thorough case analysis — Experienced, problem-solving attorneys will work with you to develop a comprehensive legal strategy for your situation. What are the long-term benefits or consequences of legal options? How will each approach affect you? We’re committed to finding the best solution to your needs.
It’s our goal to help you not only navigate your case successfully but emerge in a better place when it’s complete.
We look to find ways to resolve legal matters that are cost-effective and help to shorten the legal timeline while still providing you with experienced counsel, legal advice, and guidance. The best answer isn’t always to take your matter to court. We’ll dig deep to try to limit your costs and the length of your case so you can move forward with life.
If the challenge exists, so must the solution.
– Rona Minarik
FAQs about civil litigation
What is civil litigation?
Civil litigation refers to a broad range of legal processes and proceedings. Anything that isn’t criminal law is civil law. That means that civil cases are litigated in civil court rather than criminal court and that the resolution that the plaintiff seeks is financial compensation rather than jail time.
I keep hearing about “tort law.” What is this?
Tort is the term used to describe when someone or something injures another person or thing through a wrongful act. Tort law is an area of civil litigation that determines who is responsible and how these kinds of situations should be resolved. Examples of cases in tort law include:
- Debt collections
- Promissory note defaults
- Breach of contract
- Misrepresentation
- Unjust enrichment
- Nuisance actions
- Consumer actions
- Wrongful termination
- Civil rights violations
- Defamation and libel
What are my options for settling my case? Do I have to go to court?
No, it may not be necessary. Many civil lawsuits are resolved through alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which refers to any method of resolving a case outside the courtroom. Approaches in ADR include facilitation, mediation, and arbitration.
Your best route forward will depend on the specifics of your case and what outcomes you’re hoping to achieve. An attorney experienced in civil litigation can walk you through your options and help you determine which options you should pursue.
How does litigation work? What should I expect?
When you enter into a situation involving litigation, there is a lot of uncertainty about the process. Civil litigation, for the most part, has six identifiable stages, those being:
- Investigation – Gathering evidence and researching claims and counterclaims to support your case against the opposing side
- Pleadings – Information formally filed with the court. This includes complaints, answers, and motions. Once filed, this information is public.
- Discovery – The most labor-intensive part of a case. During the discovery phase, depositions, interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and subpoenas are gathered.
- Pretrial – During this phase, either side can file a Motion to Compel, Motion for Summary Judgment, and/or a Motion to Dismiss
- Trial – During this phase, your case is heard by a jury before a judge. Many cases don’t proceed to trial but instead are settled beforehand. Trials may last anywhere from one day to months.
- Appeal – The appeals process handle disputes over the verdict, relitigating the interpretation of the law
Not every civil case will reach the trial and appeal stages. It’s common to settle cases prior to trial and verdicts aren’t always appealed.
How long will the case take to resolve?
The answer to this depends entirely on your case. Each one is different. Civil litigation can last a few months or a few years, although most of this time is spent devoted to the discovery stage.