Everyday thousands of lawsuits are filed across the county and in the Common wealth of Massachusetts. Typically, you first learn you have been sued when you are served with a copy of a Summons and Complaint by a judicial officer. After receiving a Complaint, you should review it carefully and consult with an attorney experienced in litigation. Depending on the type of the lawsuit, you may need to send a copy of the Complaint to your insurance company.
Shortly after receiving the Complaint, your attorney will file an Answer outlining your defenses to the lawsuit, as well as any counterclaims that you against the plaintiff, or cross-claims against co-defendants. The case then enters the discovery phase, during which the parties make requests for information and take depositions to learn more about the case. Once the parties are satisfied with the information they have received and have evaluated the merits of the case, the parties often try settle the matter. The vast majority of cases reach are resolved by settlement negotiations, including some form of alternative dispute resolution like mediation, arbitration, or case evaluation.
Litigation Questions & Answers
What happens when I am sued?
What should I do when I have been sued?
The first thing that you should do is to call an experienced Massachusetts litigation attorney. You should also be prepared to discuss with that attorney if you have insurance. You may have insurance that will pay for your legal fees to defend you in the lawsuit and pay any claim that may be entered against you in the lawsuit. It is important that you investigate if you have insurance as soon as possible as the insurance policy will most likely require that you notify the insurance company immediately or forfeit your rights.
You should also investigate if you have any benefits from your employer or groups that you belong to such as a union that will provide you with free or discounted legal services. You should also remember that once you have been sued whatever you say about the lawsuit to anyone could become the subject of court or deposition testimony. Because of this fact, you should be careful to say little or nothing about the lawsuit to anyone except an attorney because what you say to an attorney that represents you is protected by the attorney-client privilege. This is one reason why the first step when you are sued is to call an experienced litigation attorney to represent you.
Attorneys in Franklin Massachusetts and Medfield MA lawyers
The Massachusetts attorneys of Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon provide legal services to Massachusetts businesses, families, and individuals in the practice areas of business law, criminal defense, divorce and family law, employment law, estate planning, personal injury, real estate, and litigation matters.
Our attorneys represent clients throughout Massachusetts and in every county of Massachusetts including Norfolk County, Suffolk County, Worcester County, Bristol County, Middlesex County, Plymouth County, Hamden County, Essex County and Barnstable County. Our attorneys represent clients in Massachusetts’ largest communities including the cities of Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River, Lynn, and Quincy.
Our law offices are located in Franklin and Medfield and serve the Greater Boston MetroWest region and the neighboring towns of Bellingham, Milford, Upton, Hopedale, Holliston, Medway, Millis, Medfield, Norwood, Walpole, Sharon, Foxborough, Wrentham, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, Taunton, Attleboro, Seekonk, Rehoboth, Uxbridge, Whittensville, and Worcester.
