You’ve been injured. Someone tarnished your good name, wrongfully wrecked your car, painted your house the wrong color, or gave you a haircut that makes you look like their dog and not yours. You need to sue. This list of 11 things to consider before doing that will help you get all your ducks in a row. Take off the kid gloves. You’re in litigation now.
Don’t Let Jurisdiction Kill Your Case
Avoid losing on a “technicality.” If you get a dismissal on a jurisdictional issue, don’t roll over and say, “My case was dismissed. I guess that’s that.” Or worse, “I’ll appeal.” If you’ve found a statute that gives you the right to sue, find the right court to sue in.
Don’t Answer A Complaint Without A Court Order
It’s a mistake to answer a complaint too early. Are you making unnecessary admissions in the answer? Have you found all available affirmative defenses? Wouldn’t it be better to get the claim dismissed? Give yourself time to prepare before answering a complaint. A court order tells you it’s time.
Sovereign Citizens Make Pro Se Litigants Look Silly
Yes, I’ll say it: Sovereign citizens are cuckoo for cocoa puffs. They believe the U.S. government became a corporation and lost jurisdiction over its citizens in 1933 when the gold standard was dropped. As a result, every U.S. citizen is now his or her own “sovereign”. A sovereign citizen has to make a contract with that corporation – one governed by admiralty or […]
