Before filing a lawsuit, you should gather all of the information necessary to make the case. A brief statement of your claim, the date(s) of the underlying incident, and copies of all relevant documents should be included with your complaint. You should also preserve the originals for future reference. In addition to presenting evidence at the trial, you will also need to serve the defendant with the lawsuit. Usually, you will need to serve the defendant with the complaint and the responses to it.

A lawsuit can be either a civil or criminal proceeding. The plaintiff (person) will file a lawsuit against the defendant (party). The defendant is usually an individual or company that is responsible for the alleged legal wrong. The lawsuit will be decided by a court of law or equity. The court will also make any interim orders or judgments that it deems necessary to determine the facts of the case. In the end, a lawsuit can be a good way to resolve a dispute.

A civil lawsuit is usually measured in money, with the plaintiff asking the court to award a judgment in their favor. This judgment is usually accompanied by a court order that requires the defendant to pay the plaintiff. In contrast, a criminal case will most likely result in jail time, probation, a fine, or compelled community service. If you are wondering if you should hire an attorney, visit FindLaw’s How to Sue section.