Steven P. Sona ESQ

As with any kind of legal proceeding, it’s very important that you’re upfront and honest with us about every aspect of the situation. Even if you believe your actions contributed to the matter, we still need to know.

Civil attorneys who specialize in consumer litigation represent their clients' rights in consumer transactions. Consumer litigation involves matters such as deceptive or unfair trade practices, consumer fraud, auto warranties and Lemon laws, construction defects, and unscrupulous credit collection practices.

In an attempt to settle a civil action, the parties involved can enter into mediation or arbitration (or the courts may order them to engage in one of the two). While both are designed to settle the suit, they are different processes.

When you’re involved in a civil law matter, you may be tempted to save money by acting as your own attorney. Remember, working with a skilled civil attorney can ensure all documents are properly filled out and that your interests are fully represented.

The simplest and most convincing reasons to write a will is that your assets will only go where you want them to with a will. This is often an issue when an ex-spouse is involved. A civil lawyer can help you to write up and then update your will, so there will be no confusion.

Although you may be anxious to have your day in court, it’s important to stay open to any settlements that are offered by the other side. In some cases, the settlement may make court unnecessary.

If you have been served with a summons in a complaint in a civil matter, seek the advice and help of an attorney experienced in civil litigation. He or she can prepare your answer, any counter- or cross-claims that may exist, and file any appropriate motions.

It’s important to remember that civil law cases work differently than criminal cases do. Instead of having a prosecutor and a defendant, there is a plaintiff and a defendant or defendants.

Did you know that civil cases do have some constitutional protections in place? For instance, the involved parties must file and receive the consent of the court in order to begin the discovery process, and can only investigate those areas allowed by the court.

The laws of Aethelbert, the earliest documented English civil and criminal laws, are important for many reasons. They provide rare insights into legal standards of the period (590-616), and they were the first laws recorded in the common language rather than Latin.

What kind of damages can you expect to receive in your personal injury case? The goal of civil law is to put the plaintiff back to the position he or she was before the incident. Compensatory damages can be awarded for medical costs, lost work and any property lost.

Did you know that, in a criminal case, the plaintiff is always the same? It’s either the state or federal government, and in all criminal cases, the potential punishment is the same: a fine, time in jail, or sometimes both.