Attorney Eliot Dempsey and The Dempsey Law Firm represent clients throughout the civil litigation process, helping individuals and businesses protect their rights while pursuing fair and effective resolutions to complex legal disputes. With a strong understanding of Florida civil procedure, Attorney Eliot Dempsey guides clients through each stage of litigation while developing strategic solutions tailored to the unique circumstances of every case.

WHAT IS CIVIL LITIGATION?

Civil litigation is the legal process for resolving non-criminal disputes between individuals, businesses, or organizations, where one party (plaintiff) sues another (defendant) seeking money (damages) or a specific remedy rather than punishment. 

Money damages are the most common legal remedy in civil cases. Civil litigation covers a wide range of issues such as contract breaches, personal injury, property disputes, family matters, and employment issues.  

The Civil Suit Process

The Florida civil suit process begins with the pleadings stage, where the plaintiff files a Complaint and Summons to formally start the lawsuit and notify the defendant of the claims being made. Once served, the defendant has a limited amount of time to file a response or answer, which officially joins the issues in dispute and moves the case forward.

After the pleadings are complete, the case enters the discovery phase, which focuses on gathering information. During discovery, both sides exchange evidence through written questions, requests for documents, and depositions, which are sworn statements taken outside of court. This process allows each party to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the case before trial.

Attorney Eliot Dempsey and the Dempsey Law Firm work closely with clients during discovery to ensure all relevant evidence is properly obtained, analyzed, and presented.

Next is the pretrial stage, where the parties file motions asking the judge to rule on legal or procedural issues. The judge also sets deadlines and manages the case schedule. At this stage, courts often encourage the parties to attempt settlement through alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to resolve the dispute without going to trial.

If the case does not settle, it proceeds to trial before a judge or a jury. Each side presents evidence and arguments, and the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that their claims are more likely true than not. After the trial concludes, the judge or jury issues a decision.

Finally, either party may appeal the judge’s ruling or the jury’s verdict to a higher court. An appeal does not involve a new trial but instead asks the appellate court to review the case for legal errors that may have affected the outcome.

Through each stage of civil litigation, Attorney Eliot Dempsey and The Dempsey Law Firm remain committed to providing strategic guidance, strong advocacy, and personalized representation designed to achieve favorable outcomes for their clients.