Top 5 Tips If You've Been Sued
Most of us will never see the inside of a courtroom. And if we do, it's more likely to be for jury duty, or to haggle over a speeding ticket. Those less lucky may find themselves on the other end of a civil lawsuit, which can be a scary proposition. You may not have realized you did anything wrong, and now someone else is claiming you owe thousands or even millions of dollars?
Lawsuits should be taken seriously, but that's no reason to panic. Here's what you need to know if you've been sued.
1. Don't Bother Avoiding Process Servers
The first step in any lawsuit is to put all the parties on notice that legal action is pending. In the interest of fairness and so no one can claim the notice got lost in the mail, most states require notice of a lawsuit to be hand-delivered. But there are other options for service of process.
2. Do I Have to Respond to a Lawsuit?
Well, you could ignore it, if you're willing to deal with the consequences. Failure to respond to a lawsuit generally means a default judgment for the plaintiff suing you, which could entail a hefty financial bill including fines and fees.
3. Can I Be Sued in Another Country?
Travel enough and you're bound to get in over your head overseas. And some countries' legal systems don't provide the same protections for defendants as ours. Here's what you need to know about international lawsuits.
4. Is My Legal Case Public Record?
Many litigants are surprised (and sometimes embarrassed) to learn that their lawsuit is a matter of public record. While it might not seem this way in your case, public lawsuits and trials serve the common good by adding transparency to what can be a convoluted legal process.
5. 10 Times You Absolutely Need a Lawyer
It's number five on this list, but it should be the first thing in your mind if you get sued. As we've noted, the legal process can be complicated and the consequences severe if you ignore or lose a lawsuit. So talk to an experienced litigation attorney if you've been sued -- most are willing to consult about your case for free.
Related Resources:
- Find Litigation & Appeals Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
- Legal How-To: Responding to a Lawsuit (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Civil Cases - The Basics (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Going to Court (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)