Jeremiah A. Denton III, P.C. is a tireless advocate representing clients’ rights at trial. During the more than 40 years since our firm was established, we have earned a reputation as successful litigators who are well-versed in trial law and determined to win “unwinnable” cases. Because of our litigation skills and hard-hitting style, we have won several multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements in the most challenging cases.
Read our responses to frequently asked questions about the civil litigation process. Then contact our law firm to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced civil litigation lawyers so we can help you resolve your legal disputes.
To learn more about the civil litigation process, call Jeremiah A. Denton III, P.C. at 757-215-4818 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
To initiate a civil lawsuit, we file a petition with the clerk of court that states the facts of your case and your cause of action.
The defendant is served with your complaint and instructed on how to file an answer. We also conduct discovery — the legal process for investigating the facts of your case — to obtain important information and evidence from the defendant. We may file pre-trial motions and conduct several pre-trial hearings and depositions.
The law sets strict statutes of limitations for filing a complaint — the timeframe depends on the type of civil action. If you miss the deadline, you may permanently forfeit your right to pursue your legal remedies.
Some civil actions are resolved very quickly and others take years. Upon reviewing your individual circumstances, we give you our best estimate as to when we expect to resolve your disputes.
You have the right to certain documents and information from the defendant. We serve subpoenas on the defendants that demand they produce specific items or explain to the court why they think the law does not require them to comply.
Many civil complaints settle before trial.
Mediation often saves the parties the costs of litigation, expedites resolution and gives the parties more control over the outcome of the case.
This standard is applied to criminal cases, not to civil actions. Your standard is lower, but depends on the type of case.
A civil judge cannot impose criminal sanctions on the defendant as a result of your winning your case. However, these same defendants may be charged with a crime and be subject to incarceration or other criminal penalties if found guilty in criminal court.
Unfortunately, you do not receive your money immediately. The defendants have a specific amount of time to pay the judgment. However, if the defendant avoids paying, we have several legal remedies available to us — including garnishing wages and placing liens on property.