4 Parts Of The Discovery Stage In Civil Litigation
If you're involved in a legal dispute, you will need to learn about the stages of discovery. This is the time when each of the litigants that are involved in the case will need to meet and provide specific details of it. The more information and proof you're able to provide during this stage, the stronger the case you will have. By knowing what's involved in each discovery stage, you may be more prepared for this part of the litigation process.
Deposition
You may be asked to complete a deposition for your case and this means you will need to meet with the other person's attorney. This is typically done at the office of the lawyer who is disposing you.
Below are some important facts to keep in mind about this meeting
- It will be necessary to be sworn in under oath before responding to any questions.
- You should only provide truthful responses to any questions.
- It's important to have your lawyer attend this meeting with you.
Written interrogatories
It's possible you may be served a series of no more than 25 questions that must be answered. These are known as the written interrogatories and are an important part of the discovery stage. It's critical to the strength of your case to provide detailed and truthful answers.
Requests for Admissions
There are sure to be parts of the case that you don't agree with at all. You will be asked to either admit or deny certain statements regarding the details of your case. This should help shorten the amount of time a case is in court by getting to the facts of the legal dispute.
Requests for Production Documents
One of the most important times to prove your case is during the requests for production documents stage. This is when you should be able to provide written documentation to support any claims filed against you or receipts for your financial losses.
Below are some documents to enter during this stage:
- Copies of any medical bills you've had to pay.
- A letter from your employer stating time lost from work if you were injured.
- Any information from witnesses that may prove you did nothing legally wrong.
Being prepared for the discovery stage is important to your entire case. Be sure to consult with a personal injury attorney who can provide you complete details on what to expect during each part of this stage.
To learn more, contact a law firm like Eaby Firm LLC.