Life as a plaintiff

There may come a time that a lawsuit is your only option left to get compensation for harm for which  another person is responsible under the law.  Perhaps an automobile insurance company refuses to provide you with fair compensation for you to cover your medicals bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering.  Or maybe your employer has let you go based on a protected characteristic, such as due to a disability.  It could be that your landlord refuses to make necessary repairs to the apartment you lease.  A civil lawsuit may be the only way to get justice.

After making decisions on whether to retain an attorney, who to choose as your attorney to represent you, and what claims to bring against the defendants, the life of a plaintiff begins once a civil complaint is filed in a court.  In most instances, you will have to answer questions and respond to requests in writing under oath and go to a deposition in which the defendant's attorney can ask you questions about your background and your claims.  There may be a mediation or you may have to go trial.  The judge or jury may not find in your favor.  There are no guarantees in litigation.

Remember though that you as the plaintiff are in control.  You are the one bringing the claims and taking the defendant to court.  You make the ultimate decisions on whether to keep fighting for a fair settlement or go to trial to see if a jury of your peers agrees that you should be allowed to have full compensation.

Here are five tips to ensure that you feel in control during this entire process:

• Be fully honest and upfront with your attorneys about the facts of your case and your expectations.  I can handle "bad" facts, but I cannot handle lies.  Also, I do not know what you do not share with me.  I want to get every bit of information that you think is remotely relevant to your case.
• Stay in contact with your attorneys to see if you can provide any additional information to help.  I like when my clients call me or send me periodic emails to let me know important things in their lives are happening.
• Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for important events.  Keep track of dates of those events.  Schedule time off for your deposition, mediation, or trial.
  
• Before speaking or meeting with your attorney, gather all of the information that you will need to make those sessions productive.
• Keep living your life.  Do everything in your power to regain your sense of self.