What do I need to do?

• Call your broker or notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
• Identify who was served with the lawsuit, and the date(s) of service.
• Do not give statements or discuss the case with anyone other than your insurance agent, a representative of your insurance company, or your attorney.
• Secure all evidence, records, and documents that may be needed for the defense of your case.
• Identify witnesses and employees who have knowledge of the incident.
• Provide full cooperation to your insurance company's claims staff and to your defense counsel.

What happens now?

Summons and Complaint
The litigation process begins when the plaintiff, or his/her attorney, files a complaint (lawsuit) with the court. In the complaint, the plaintiff states causes of action which set forth the allegations against the defendants(s), the injury or damage suffered, as well as the amount of monetary damages or other relief sought.

The plaintiff then serves the complaint on the defendants(s) along with a summons. A summons is a legal notice to the defendant that a lawsuit has been filed and that a judgment will be entered against the defendant if he/she fails to answer the complaint within the statutory time limit. For example, in the Florida State court, the defendant has 30 days in which to file an answer to the complaint.

An answer is a written pleading filed by the defendant(s) addressing the facts alleged in the complaint. The defendant(s) may also file a cross-complaint, which is a claim against the other party, who may or may not be a current party to the lawsuit.

Failure to file an answer with the court could result in a default judgment whereby the party losses the right to a defense, and may also be liable for the plaintiff's claimed damages and expenses.

If you are served with a summons and complaint, you must immediately notify your insurance agent or insurance company. Failure to promptly notify the insurance carrier of a lawsuit may result in the forfeit of an insured's rights under the policy.

Not all claims are covered under the policy of insurance. Consequently, there are some situations in which there is no duty to defend or indemnify an insured for an uncovered claim, or there is a duty to defend a claim subject to a reservation of rights. Coverage issues must be discussed with the examiner handling the claim.

Discovery
During the discovery phase of the litigation process, each party has the opportunity to gather information regarding the opposing party's case. Some of the major discovery tools in a civil case are:

• Interrogatories
  Interrogatories are written questions served on a party that must be answered and filed with the court within a specified time frame. Your attorney can assist you in completing the responses.

• Deposition
  A deposition is a statement made under oath by a party or witness in response to oral questions. The deposition proceeding is transcribed by a court reporter. Your defense counsel will assist you prior to and during the deposition.

• Request for Production and Inspection
  One party in the litigation asks another party to produce documents and records.

• Request for Admission
  One party asks the other party to admit to a fact or to verify the authenticity of an evidentiary document.

• Independent Medical Exam (IME)
  A physical or psychological examination of the plaintiff by a doctor hired by the defense.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
The trend today is toward resolving cases prior to incurring the time and expense associated with litigation. Arbitration, mediation, and settlement conferences serve as good tools for resolving cases. Although your attendance may not be mandatory, you are always welcome to participate in the ADR process.

• Mediation
  The parties meet with a neutral intermediary who attempts to assist in resolving the case. Mediation is voluntary and not binding. The parties normally share the cost of mediation.

• Arbitration
  Parties present their cases to an impartial third party or panel for a decision. The parties may agree before the arbitration to make the decision/award binding. If the arbitration is not binding, either party may reject the decision award. Arbitrations can be voluntary or court ordered.

• Mandatory Settlement Conference
  The parties meet at the courthouse with the judge to attempt to settle the case. Participation is mandatory, but the judge cannot force the parties to settle the matter against their will.

Trial
If the case cannot be resolved through ADR, it will proceed to trial. Most cases are tried in front of a judge and jury. However, the parties can agree to a bench trial, which is a trial in front of a judge, without a jury. Each side has an opportunity to make an opening statement to summarize what they will attempt to establish during the trial.

The plaintiff puts on her/hid case first by calling witnesses and presenting evidence to support the claims against the defendant(s). Counsel for the defendant has an opportunity to cross-examine the witness after the plaintiff's attorney has completed his/her questioning.

After the plaintiff rests his/her case, the counsel for the defendant has the opportunity to present a case on behalf of the defendant to refute the plaintiff's claims. The plaintiff can cross-examine the defense witnesses. After the defense has rested its case, the plaintiff has the opportunity to present rebuttal evidence before each side makes its closing arguments.

After the closing arguments, the judge delivers the jury instructions to advise the jury of the law, its applicability, and the plaintiff's burden of proof. The jury then deliberates the case until a verdict is reached, or until it becomes clear that they will not be able to reach a verdict.

In Florida, at least three-fourths of the jury has to agree upon the verdict in a civil case. If it is a bench trial, the judge renders the decision.

After a judgment is entered, the losing side may decide to appeal the trial court ruling. However, in most cases, the parties do not pursue an appeal. Your attorney can discuss appeal issues with you if you are faced with that situation.

A Final Comment
Litigation is a horribly time-consuming, expensive, frustrating process. It should be used as a last resort only. Prior to litigation, it is recommended that you make every possible effort to resolve conflict. *