Business Lawyers Blog
Despite the fact that everyone is entitled to their day in the court, the reality is that most cases are resolved out of court. Many clients will approach their lawyers with the hope that they will be able to quickly get in front of a judge and explain their story—a vision of American justice that is reinforced in popular media and Court TV. However, getting to trial is a long process and most cases never make it to trial. In most situations, the cases take earlier exit ramps, such as informal out-of-court settlement, mediation, arbitration, or is resolved by a ruling before trial. Even if a case is set for trial, it is very common for the parties to settle on the eve of trial.
Often, the cheapest and most efficient way for a dispute to get resolved is for the attorneys to work on an out-of-court settlement. This can occur at any point either before or after a lawsuit has been filed. Under this track, attorneys informally negotiate a resolution. If the parties agree to it, the attorneys will memorialize the resolution in a settlement agreement. This is often the quickest way to resolve a case, as it does not require any third-party intervention—it only requires the parties to work together to settle their differences and capable counsel to guide the parties through the process.
In addition to out-of-court settlements, cases often get resolved with the help of a neutral third-party. For instance, cases often go to non-binding mediation before they move on to trial. Indeed, more and more courts are making mediation a mandatory step before allowing the case to move to trial. During mediation, the parties present their case to a neutral third party whose job is to facilitate a settlement agreement by working with the parties and their attorneys as a go-between. Sometimes, cases may end up in front of a neutral third-party who has the authority to make a binding decision. For instance, if the parties signed an agreement for binding arbitration, a private judge will make the final decision and the parties must live with the decision whether or not they are happy with it. Arbitration is usually less costly and more efficient than going to trial.
Even if the case ends up in court, there is a chance that it may be resolved before trial. The purpose of trial is to figure out the truth of what actually happened in a conflict. Therefore, if there is no dispute about what actually happened, a party can file a summary judgment motion. With a summary judgment motion, the argument is that there is no dispute of fact in the case, therefore the judge does not have to investigate the facts and can make a ruling sooner. If a party brings a summary judgment motion, that party has the burden of providing evidence to convince the judge that there is no dispute of fact in the case. This evidence may come in a variety of forms, including affidavits, declarations, and discovery responses. If a judge is persuaded, the judge may decide to rule on the case right there. As you can see, getting to trial is an involved and lengthy process with the potential for a lot of different early exit ramps. If you insist on going to trial, expect to have a long waiting period. It is not uncommon for cases to take several years to get to trial, and then there is usually a waiting period that can last anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks before you receive the final decision from a judge. Due to the reality of the trial process – how long it takes to get there and all the litigation fees and expenses that add up in the meantime – it is important to work with attorneys who are strategic and sensitive to your financial situation.
Consult with a California Business Litigation Attorney Regarding Your Case
Regardless of the track that a case takes, it is important to have an experienced litigator on your side to guide you through the litigation process in California. The highly capable attorneys at Structure Law Group, LLP can help you find the right path, which could save you a lot of time and money. Schedule a consultation today by calling (408) 441-7500 today, or emailing slgadmin@structurelaw.com.