Category Archives: Civil Litigation
Arizona’s Top 10 Civil Verdicts in 2020
An overview of the top civil verdicts from Arizona in 2020 Every year we bring you news of the top ten Civil verdicts in the State of Arizona. Twenty Twenty will go down as a very odd year as most of the State Court Houses were closed to trials for a majority of the year […]
Government Entity Immunity in Arizona
Statutory immunity can make claims against Arizona’s government entities difficult Thinking of suing the State of Arizona for a bad road? Thinking of suing the Sheriff’s Department for not making an arrest and letting someone go who later causes harm? Thinking of suing the City for a bad intersection? Think twice. It is not so […]
Trial Procedure: A Brief Overview
A brief summary of trial procedure We are often asked about trial procedures with questions such as: “Do I have to be there?” “Will it take all day?” “Will I have to testify?” Yes, yes, and yes. Most trials last a minimum of 4 days. Some take longer. The client is the star witness. The […]
What to Expect and How to Prepare for a Deposition
Depositions can be intimidating. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare: A deposition is a formal interview, usually conducted by opposing counsel. The person being deposed (deponent) is sworn under oath to tell the truth and the entire interview is transcribed in real time by a court reporter. A deposition can also be video-recorded […]
What is “Discovery” in a Lawsuit & What Devices Can Arizona Attorneys Deploy?
Discovery in Your Civil Lawsuit Discovery devices – what are they and how are they used? “Discovery” is a term of art used in the law. It means “to find out” what the plaintiff’s case or the defense case is all about. “Discovery” in Arizona is open and liberal. Since “Disclosure Statements” became the rule […]
Spoliation: The Destruction of Evidence
A court can punish a party that destroys evidence Spoliation: Noun: “Destruction of a thing by the act of a stranger, as the erasure or alteration of a writing by the act of a stranger:” Spoliator: “A spoiler or destroyer.” (Black’s Law Dictionary Revised 4th edition) So what does it mean? Missing evidence is usually […]
The Importance Of Deadlines In Your Lawsuit And What They Mean To You
The Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure were completely modified effective July 1, 2018. We now have the tiered system for cases that was discussed in a prior newsletter. Along with the tiers came strict “rules of engagement” that requires the Plaintiff and the defendant to meet all deadlines imposed by the court. The rules still […]
Discovery and Disclosure: Why So Many Rules?
Your case thrives or dies under Arizona’s strict discovery and disclosure rules After a lawsuit is filed and served on the defendant, and after the Defendant files a responsive Answer to the lawsuit, the case enters discovery and disclosure. During this extended period leading up to trial, the parties exchange, produce, and create evidence in […]
Navigating the New Tiered System of Case Management in Arizona
Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure There are new Rules in place that radically change how cases are litigated Effective July 31, 2018, the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure were amended to classify cases into three tiers, or classifications. The tiers are based on estimated case value, and were designed to eliminate unnecessary discovery and make […]
Arizona’s Civil Verdicts in 2017
The trend continues. Total trials are down. For the first time ever in Arizona, defense verdicts exceeded Plaintiff’s verdicts. Only one verdict was over $10 million. Four of the top ten verdicts came from Pima County. Many of the top ten verdicts were not injury cases but were business disputes. Mohave, La Paz, Yuma, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham, Coconino, Greenlee […]
