Filing a Civil Lawsuit in California – Anatomy of a Lawsuit Part IV

This series applies to California lawsuits only. For rules related to lawsuits in any other state, visit the website for your state’s courts. This is a very broad overview. Multiple considerations must take place and detailed analysis goes into each step. Please consult a lawyer for help with your particular case. Below is an infographic chart with an overview on filing a civil lawsuit in California. This article discusses step one, the actual filing of a civil lawsuit. Before Filing a Civil Lawsuit There are some considerations before filing a civil lawsuit in California, such as figuring out 1) What is the Deadline to File a Lawsuit; and 2) Where to File a Lawsuit. I almost always recommend communicating with the other side and working together to find a win-win solution to a problem before going the civil lawsuit route. Sometimes you can do that yourself but other times you may need a California business lawyer or a civil litigation attorney to step in help you negotiate a solution. If that doesn’t work and you hit an impasse, you may have no … Continue reading
Anatomy of a Lawsuit – California Statute of Limitations

This is the first post in a new series called “Anatomy of a Lawsuit” where I will explain the process, some legal terms, and considerations that go into a lawsuit. Comments and questions are appreciated so that I can provide information that is most useful to readers. We’ll start with “when to file a lawsuit?” Today’s topic is the statute of limitations (SOL), which is a fancy word for deadline to file a lawsuit. It’s a simple equation. Missing the SOL = you’re SOL. Different types of lawsuits have different deadlines to file a lawsuit (statute of limitations). If you blow this deadline, you could forever lose your right to sue. Below is a non-exclusive list of the deadlines to file some of the most common types of lawsuits in California. You should confirm with counsel what category your dispute falls under and whether there are special statutes of limitations that apply to your case. What if I want to sue a public entity such as a city, county, school district, or state university? There are additional requirements for suing … Continue reading