CIVIL LITIGATION

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation involves a legal dispute between two or more parties. Often involving claims for money damages, requiring specific performance or refraining from doing something. Civil lawsuits can be a necessary part of running a business, resolving disputes with neighbors or even seeking protection from a harassing individual. It is important to have an experienced civil litigation attorney on your side to enforce contracts or respond to another party’s legal claims.

When a contract requires the other party to make good on their promises, a civil lawsuit can force that party to finish the job or demand money damages for the breach of contract. When a company is owed money, a civil lawsuit may be necessary to compel payment or get a judgment.

At Zimmerman Law, we represent clients on a number of civil matters and offer reasonable rates and individualized service. With our assistance, a challenging legal case can often be resolved in a cost-efficient and timely manner with a minimum of stress.

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Need a Lawyer? We Can Help.

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Our office handles the following areas that civil litigation can help resolve:

• Breach of Contract

• Collections (We serve both Plaintiffs and Defendants/Creditors and Debtors)

• Real and Personal Property Disputes

• Unlawful Detainer

  • Landlord/tenant disputes

• Disputes with Neighbors (fences, trees, distributive and annoying animals and behaviors)

• Civil Harassment Restraining Orders

The life of a civil law case

A civil law case has three primary phases: pre-trial, trial, and appeals. A case often begins with one party sending the other a demand letter, in which they make certain requests or demand compensation. If the parties cannot agree to resolve the matter, then a civil lawsuit is often filed in a local courthouse. Once the lawsuit is filed by the plaintiff, the defendant has the opportunity to respond. The parties then enter the pre-trial phase, where information and evidence are exchanged and motions are filed to establish the scope of the case. A motion is a document where an attorney makes a legal argument and asks the judge to rule on the issue. Once this process is complete, the parties then move to the next phase: trial.

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At trial, each side has the opportunity to present evidence — including witness testimony — cross-examine witnesses, and give opening and closing statements. A judge or jury then issues a verdict on the matter, which might include ordering one side to pay the other or requiring one party to do or refrain from doing something. Once a verdict has been entered, a party can appeal the matter to a higher court if he or she believes that an error was made by the judge or jury. This is the final phase of the process. 

Civil litigation can be a lengthy, expensive, and complicated process. Each party has to follow specific rules and must apply the law to the facts of the case to make a strong argument for why they should prevail. At Zimmerman Law, we are experienced in all phases of civil litigation.

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We utilize our legal knowledge to help our clients reach favorable resolutions to their civil litigation matters throughout the Bay Area. With fair pricing and a commitment to integrity, our firm is an ideal choice for anyone facing a civil law matter in Contra Costa County or the surrounding areas. 

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We utilize our skill and experience to help our clients achieve the best possible resolution to their case. We charge reasonable rates and are dedicated to providing highly personalized service.

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Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you with your civil litigation matter.