Illinois Civil Litigation Attorney

Trial Lawyer Contract Disputes, Asset Forfeiture, Personal Injury in Chicago and Throughout Illinois

The legal system in the United States can be complex and difficult to understand for someone who is not trained and experienced in the law. Becoming involved in a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect. However, with the right advocate on your side, you can make this system work for you and achieve the ideal results in your situation. Whether you are seeking to recover damages from another party or defending against a lawsuit that has been filed against you, you need a skilled attorney who can protect your rights and advocate for your best interests in court.

Understanding Civil Litigation

Whenever two or more parties have a legal dispute that must be resolved in court, this is settled through civil litigation. Rather than criminal charges, a civil lawsuit can seek a monetary judgment, or it can request that a party be required to take or cease certain actions. A civil trial will include several stages:

• Pleadings - Each party files a statement describing their side of the dispute.
• Discovery - Both sides gather information using tools such as depositions, interrogatories, and subpoenas.
• Pretrial - Prior to the trial, each side will present a brief to the judge outlining their arguments and the evidence they plan to present. The parties may also file motions asking the court to rule on certain aspects of the trial. Some motions, such as a motion for summary judgment, may ask to dismiss the other party's case altogether.
• Settlement - The parties may reach an agreement on some or all aspects of the lawsuit at any point before or during the trial.
• Trial - During a trial, each side will present evidence, call witnesses, and make arguments, and a judge or jury will make a decision.
• Appeal - Following the trial, if either party is not satisfied with the ruling, they can ask a higher court to review the case. This court will typically only review the trial for legal errors rather than reviewing any factual evidence. It will then make a decision to affirm or reverse the verdict or order a new trial.

The Value of an Experienced Civil Litigator

Attorney Stephen M. Komie has over 40 years of experience litigating both civil and criminal cases. Mr. Komie and the skilled attorneys at Komie and Associates can provide representation in a wide variety of civil lawsuits, including:

• Estate Litigation - Representing a deceased person's heirs in any disputes over contested wills and estates.
• Probate - Helping people named as the executor of someone's will to meet all their legal requirements as they distribute a deceased person's assets to their heirs.
• Liquor Licensing - Representing bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and other establishments in matters related to liquor license applications, renewal hearings, variations, and transfers.
• Immigration - Assisting with visa and green card applications and defending documented and undocumented immigrants against deportation from the United States.
• Personal Injury Claims - Helping you seek compensation for injuries suffered from car accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, dog bites, slip-and-fall accidents, or defective products.
• Divorce and Family Law - Advocating for your rights in divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption, guardianship, or other family law matters.
• Civil Asset Forfeiture - Helping you recover money or other property which was seized by the government or law enforcement in both federal or state courts.
• Breach of Contract Claims - Helping you pursue monetary damages when someone defaults on a contract, ensure that the terms of a contract are upheld, or defend against disputed contract claims.
• Employment and Labor Disputes - Representing both employees and employers in lawsuits related to workplace harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, wage and hour issues, or non-competition agreements.
• Intellectual Property Cases - Assisting you in any legal disputes over copyrights, patents, trademarks, or trade secrets.

No matter what type of civil case you need legal help with, the knowledgeable, experienced attorneys at Komie and Associates can work with you to achieve the best possible results. Contact our Illinois civil litigation lawyers today at 312-263-2800 to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients in Chicago, Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Rock Island, and throughout Illinois and the U.S.