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document.writeln('stringTable:[\'page1\',\'\',\'32022\',\'Attorneys for both parties engage in discovery.\',\'During litigation, both sides engage in discovery, a method of obtaining information. In written discovery, the attorneys request documents and ask you (and the plaintiff) questions. Depositions, another part of discovery, provide both parties with the opportunity to question each other under oath. Attorneys for both parties will hire experts who will also be deposed. Discovery can be emotionally and physically draining, and it’s usually the most arduous part of the lawsuit process. Most states impose a cutoff date by which all discovery must be completed. <br>\',\'0108_01_0013.jpg\',\'32007\',\'Both parties attend the hearing, and the defendant presents the trial brief.\',\'The television show <em>The People’s Court</em> provides a realistic example of what you can expect in a small claims court hearing. Small claims hearings are informal. In most states, your attorney isn’t allowed to represent you at the hearing, but he or she can attend to offer moral support. The judge will call on both you and the plaintiff, giving each of you the opportunity to introduce evidence, ask questions of the witnesses, and state your case, so to speak. You’ll present the judge with the trial brief at this time. If the plaintiff can’t produce an expert’s standard of care report—and most plaintiffs can’t—the judge will rule in your favor. <br>\',\'32024\',\'Both parties engage in mediation.\',\'Judges sometimes order the parties to mediation or settlement conferences. Even if a judge doesn’t require mediation, most parties will engage in some sort of settlement talks. As a result, 90 percent of lawsuits are settled before trial. Mediation is preferable to trial because rather than the jury controlling the outcome, you and your attorneys control the terms. <br>\',\'32026\',\'Both parties go to trial.\',\'If mediation is unsuccessful and the parties don’t settle, the trial will commence.&nbsp; <br>\',\'32030\',\'The appeals process continues until the case is rejected.\',\'Attorneys are allowed to file numerous appeals, and the appeals process can be quite lengthy. <br>\',\'32025\',\'The case is settled.\',\'If both parties come to a mutually satisfying arrangement, the attorneys will draw up a settlement agreement. The lawsuit is over after the settlement.\',\'32021\',\'The court holds a hearing to rule on any motions filed by the defense.\',\'If your attorney files a demurrer or motion to strike, the judge will set a hearing date—usually 30 days after you filed the motions—to decide whether to grant the motions. It’s rare for a judge to throw out an entire case.\',\'32002\',\'The court sets a hearing date.\',\'If your attorney files a demurrer or motion to strike, the judge will set a hearing date—usually 30 days after you filed the motions—to decide whether to grant the motions. It’s rare for a judge to dismiss an entire case.<br>\',\'32023\',\'The court sets a trial date.\',\'At some point, the court will set a trial date. Sometimes the judge will order the parties to mediation before trial.\',\'32004\',\'The defendant and defense attorney meet.\',\'Although plaintiffs in small claims court rarely hire an attorney, you should. Your attorney’s first job is to write a trial brief that counters the legal items in the complaint. The brief will likely argue that the plaintiff can’t prove malpractice without presenting a standard of care report from an expert, most likely another veterinarian. The report would explain why the standard of care you provided was unacceptable or negligent.\',\'32003\',\'The defendant gets served.\',\'Some states require that healthcare providers receive prenotification of a client’s intent to sue. If your state doesn’t require prenotification, you’ll find out that you’re being sued when you’re served with the plaintiff’s complaint. <br><br>The plaintiff’s complaint must include your physical address, work or home. Depending on your state, the local deputy sheriff or process server will serve you with the documents at the provided address, or you might receive the documents in the mail. Despite what you’ve seen on television, there’s no reason to try to avoid service. The court employs fallback procedures to ensure that most complaints are served. <br><br>\',\'32019\',\'Some states require that healthcare providers receive prenotification of a client’s intent to sue. If your state doesn’t, the plaintiff’s complaint will be your first notification that you’re being sued. <br><br>The plaintiff’s complaint must include his or her attorney’s name, your name, the causes of action, the factual allegations that support the causes of action, and the amount of damages being sought. A process server usually personally delivers the summons and complaint to your home or business. Despite what you’ve seen on television, there’s no reason to try to avoid service. The court employs fallback procedures to ensure that most complaints are served. <br><br>\',\'32010\',\'The defendant pays damages, if any are awarded.\',\'The judgment of the court is nothing but an official statement in the court’s records that the defendant owes the plaintiff a certain amount of money with interest. The court provides winning plaintiffs with various resources to help them collect, so it’s best to pay promptly.\',\'32032\',\'When the appeals process is exhausted, you might still owe damages to the plaintiff.\',\'32027\',\'The defendant pays the settlement amount.\',\'A settlement doesn’t mean the defendant won’t have to pay, but it’s likely that the amount will be less than what would’ve been argued for in court. <br>\',\'32020\',\'The defense attorney files a responsive pleading.\',\'Most states require the defendant to file a responsive pleading within 30 days of being served. Your attorney may choose to respond by challenging the complaint with demurrers or motions to strike, which are attempts to get the lawsuit, or portions of it, thrown out. If you and your attorney decide not to challenge, your attorney will answer the complaint by denying the allegations. Your attorney will file the answer with the court.\',\'32009\',\'The judge hands down the verdict.\',\'The judge alone decides which party is in the right. If the judge finds in your favor, the case is over. If the judge finds in favor of the plaintiff, the judge will decide the amount of damages that you must pay. <br>\',\'32029\',\'The jury hands down the verdict.\',\'After witnesses have been called and both parties have presented their cases, the jury will issue a verdict. <br>\',\'32031\',\'The losing attorney files an appeal with a higher court.\',\'The losing attorney is allowed to appeal to a higher court. If a higher court accepts the case, a previous verdict may be overturned. When a higher court rejects the case, the appeals process—and the lawsuit—ends.\',\'31997\',\'The plaintiff files a complaint in small claims or superior court.\',\'Your client, soon to be a plaintiff, decides to sue you for malpractice. His or her second decision is whether to file the complaint/lawsuit in small claims or superior court. Small claims suits are more informal and involve smaller damages than superior court.\'],');
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