New Jersey Civil Litigation Lawyers & Law Firm

All legal matters are either criminal or civil. Criminal matters always involve the government prosecuting someone for crimes against the local, state, or federal government. Civil matters do not involve the government. Instead, they are legal disputes between private individuals or organizations. Civil litigation never results in imprisonment because the government is not a party to the dispute, but damages, fees, and costs are often paid by the losing party.

The Law Offices of Andrew Dressel LLC handles a variety of civil lawsuits in the New Jersey court system. We are often involved in business litigation stemming from breaches of contract or employment disputes. We also handle civil cases filed on behalf of injured plaintiffs who are seeking compensation for the harm they have suffered. We file individual personal injury lawsuits, but have also worked on a number of class action cases where a group of similarly mistreated or injured plaintiffs band together to seek justice.

Once a breach or injury occurs, plaintiffs have a limited window of opportunity to file a lawsuit. The amount of time that passes before the window closes varies from case to case. Business contracts often include provisions limiting the time a lawsuit can be filed. The countdown clock in a personal injury suit or other non-contractual dispute is typically governed by a statute of limitations written into New Jersey state law. One of the reasons it is important to speak to an experienced civil litigation attorney as soon as you are injured or a dispute arises is so that you get your claims filed before time runs out. Even if you have a slam-dunk case, you will be out of luck if you wait too long to file it.

In New Jersey, most civil litigation follows a similar path. First, a complaint is filed with the court. The complaint outlines the dispute between the two parties, and tells the court what the plaintiff would like the defendant to do to make things right. The defendant then files a response briefly telling their side of the story, and making any counterclaims. The court will look at these documents and decide if there is an actual dispute it is capable of resolving. Some cases do not make it past this step. Those that do, move on to the discovery phase, where both sides look for evidence that supports their claims. If the case does not settle, it then goes to trial. The judge will reach a verdict, which may be appealed if either party is dissatisfied.

Litigation is not a quick and easy way to solve a dispute. It is a lengthy, drawn-out process that can take months or even years. In New Jersey, many civil lawsuits are settled because the parties grow tired of waiting for their day in court. Cases that do go to trial, and are then appealed by the losing party, take even longer to resolve.

When The Law Offices of Andrew Dressel LLC is hired to represent a party in a civil dispute, it is our responsibility to advocate for a resolution that is in our client’s best interest. We talk with our client to figure out what their end goal is, then work backward from there. This typically means gathering evidence, identifying witnesses or key individuals that should be deposed, getting paperwork in order, drafting legal documents to file with the court, and appearing in court to advocate for our clients as the case progresses. We also keep a line of communication open with the other side because they often realize negotiating a settlement would serve them better than going to trial.

This depends on what your definition of “winning” is. Having your day in court, and coming out on top is one definition winning but it is not the only one. Winning can also mean coming to a point where you can move on with your life or business. At The Law Offices of Andrew Dressel LLC, we talk to our clients about what winning would mean to them — what it would allow them to do that they aren’t able to do now. If their goals can be accomplished outside the courtroom, that is still a win. 

The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for civil litigation is to speak with an experienced attorney like those at The Law Offices of Andrew Dressel LLC. No two cases are alike, so you need the personalized advice a lawyer can offer you. Beyond that, gather and save documents and other information that helps you remember and tell your side of the story. These things can help an attorney assess your case, and may be important evidence at trial.