If you have kept any type of personal log regarding the progression of the case, bring that along with you as well. You will not bring any witnesses to the pretrial conference - the only one attending is going to be you and your attorney. Most importantly, come to the conference prepared and with a game plan.
Think hard and long about what will this lawsuit cost you if you go to trial versus what it will cost you to settle it at the conference. You may have to swallow your pride but in the long run, eating a little crow is better than spending a fortune in a legal battle.
The majority of those reading this article are probably going it alone, without the help of an attorney. We recommended that you go to the pretrial conference with an open mind and be ready to compromise and possibly settle. You need to be prepared and you need to analyze the Plaintiff's case against you. Do they have a strong case or do they have one based only on a Complaint with no backing documentation such as payment history or a contract. Since you are not paying an attorney at this point, it might be worth your while to see just what the Plaintiff might have against you.
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Automobile Accidents. Medical Malpractice. Wrongful Death. Scroll down for more categories. X Most Common Issues:. Countless steps and plenty of negotiations are required before a case reaches resolution. The legal functionalities without a legal representation can appear daunting and hard to manage on your own.
If you or your loved one is involved in a criminal lawsuit and you have made the decision to claim trial and contest the potential charges against you, then it is probable that the court will schedule your case for a pre-trial conference. This is where most people appear confused and ask questions like what happens at a criminal pretrial conference.
A pre-trial conference can be requested by either the defendant or the plaintiff, or if needed the court can also order it to see whether the parties are ready for the trial. There could be several reasons for a pre-trial conference. Some of them include:. Generally, in a criminal case, a pre-trial conference does not decide the innocence or the guilt of the defendant. The conference is to encourage an expeditious and fair trial and to discuss the primary matters of the trial such as what evidence or how many witnesses would be presented during the trial.
At the time of the pre-trial conference, the judge can order rulings in the light of motions and pleas, decide the date of the trial, and decide the type of evidence that can be submitted during the trial. The topic which often comes under discussion is discovery. Discovery is the procedure through which the parties exchange the evidence and make requests for the production of the documents or admission of documents. Judges in the civil courts encourage using the pre-trial procedure to settle down the conflict.
In cases where the dispute does not reach a resolution, the judge may refer the case to mediation or arbitration where a third party helps the involved parties to resolve the matter in a controlled environment.
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