How Long Does a Trial Take?

Civil litigation lawyers can provide the help that you need to prepare to go to court if your company is sued or if your business has decided that it needs to file a lawsuit against someone else. We can work closely with you to understand exactly what to expect during the litigation process so you will be able to make informed decisions about whether to proceed with litigation or explore alternatives such as resolving your dispute through mediation or a negotiated settlement. 

One of the key issues that you will need to consider when deciding whether to move forward to trial or to resolve your dispute using other means is the time involved in a civil trial. Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can help you to make an assessment of how long it is likely to take for your case to be resolved as you need to be prepared for a lengthy court process in many situations.

Our civil litigation lawyers can also represent your interests throughout the litigation process and help you to try to find ways to ensure that the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible so you can resolve your case and move forward in a timely manner. Give us a call today to find out more about how Brown & Charbonneau, LLP an help you.

How Long Does a Trial Take?

The process of resolving a dispute in civil litigation can be a lengthy one. The actual trial that takes place in court in which evidence is presented to the jury usually takes a few days or a few weeks, depending upon the complexity of the case and the amount of evidence that the plaintiff and defendant present. However, this part of the trial that most people are familiar with is only a very small part of what is actually involved in civil litigation.

You may be in court many times before the time when you get to present your case as you make pretrial motions to request things of the court, such as compelling the opposing side to provide information that you need during the discovery process. You may also be in court many times to respond to pretrial motions that are filed by the opposing party that you need to respond to.

There will also be a lengthy period in which you and the opposing party are involved in preparing for the trial where you will present evidence. During this time, you may be interviewing witnesses, having your witnesses interviewed, turning over documents, reviewing documents turned over by the opposing party, gathering evidence, finding experts, and taking other necessary steps to prepare your case.

The trial preparation process that takes place after a lawsuit is filed but before a case proceeds to trial can take many months, which means you are waiting a very long time for your case ultimately to go to court so you can get the issues resolved. During this time, you can also discuss a settlement negotiation with the opposing party and if you can reach a settlement, the process of resolving the conflict is typically a much faster process.

If your case goes to court, you will need to present evidence and then wait for a verdict. After the verdict comes in, this does not necessarily mean your involvement with the legal system is at an end. You could find yourself appealing the verdict or the opposing side may appeal, which would mean the entire process would take even longer. You may also need to pursue additional court action to actually collect a judgement that you were awarded. The entire process before the case is finally resolved can take years, especially if there is an appeal.

Getting Help from Civil Litigation Lawyers

Whether you want help moving as quickly and effectively as possible through a civil trial or you want assistance from experienced civil litigation lawyers to try to find alternatives to trial such as mediation or arbitration, Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can provide the help and support you need. We will work closely with you to understand your goals and to develop an approach to resolving your dispute that serves the long-term interests of your business organization.

To find out more about how our firm can help you during the process of resolving a disagreement or conflict that is affecting your business, give us a call at (866)237-8129 or contact us online today.