14/06/2022
How to handle lawsuits
1. Introduction to Civil Procedure
Very briefly, a court case or lawsuit can be divided into three stages.They are the pleading stage; the exchange of evidence stage; and the hearing stage.
pleading stage
This stage involves the exchange of pleadings between the prosecution and the defense, that is, legal documents to the court and the other party to explain the claim or defense on the facts and facts of the case.Pleadings usually include: Statement of Claim; Defence and Counterclaim; Reply and Defence and Counterclaim.The parties to the lawsuit are through these pleadings to explain the important facts of their respective cases.This stage is very important for the smooth progress of the case in the court procedure in the future, and it is also the basic basis for the entire litigation procedure.
Evidence exchange stage
This stage involves the parties in the case exchanging evidence in support of the case stated in their pleadings.This usually involves documents such as receipts; payment certificates, or other evidence such as audio tapes; expert reports on quality or value, etc.Witness statements, which are the contents of the testimony that all witnesses will give at the trial, must also be exchanged at this stage.
Hearing stage
This is the stage of the judge's case trial. At this stage all the paperwork must be prepared and presented to the judge by the parties. All witnesses must attend the hearing and be cross-examined by the court and the opposing party. If the case is a High Court case, the parties must be represented by barristers. When the trial of the case is completed, the judge will make a decision on the case.
2. What should you do when you are sued by the other party?
A "Notice of Defence" should be filed with the court
Many people think that when involved in a civil case, as long as there is no response to the court or the other party, the plaintiff cannot take further action and claims against you.This is a seriously misconception - and never play this game of "hide and seek" in court proceedings.By law, all plaintiffs who sue you will win in your absence.This situation is legally known as a "default judgment."If you don't respond to your claim, you're doing yourself a disservice - you risk losing your chance to answer.If you do not wish to lose this opportunity, you should respond to or defend the charge immediately.
Systematically and effectively articulate your defense
You must identify a valid and accurate answer to the plaintiff's claim.Many times, you will think and believe that you are not ethically responsible for the claim; but this does not mean that you can use this as a valid defense in court.The most important thing is that you should understand what is the reason you should make a defense.
strategy
The Plaintiff's ShortcutIf
You are unable to articulate your defense or you cannot effectively make a correct defense, the other party may file a summary procedure with the court and bypass the formal trial, asking the court to issue a "summary judgment" against you.By applying, the plaintiff can often obtain a favorable judgment from the court under this "summary procedure".Therefore, it is very important for you to articulate your defense effectively.You should always keep this concept in mind to avoid or even deny that your opponent can use the "summary judgment" process to obtain a judgment.
Counterclaim?? To seek peace through war??
When you are faced with a plaintiff's claim, you are usually under a lot of pressure, especially when it comes to a string of monetary claims and legal costs.But if you file a counterclaim or counterclaim against your opponent, your opponent faces the same pressure.It also forced him to face a counterclaim crisis.In some cases, even if you do have a larger claim, your opponent may deliberately sue you first to obfuscate or distort the truth.If the circumstances permit, you can take the initiative and even try your shortcut - applying for a "summary judgment" process, applying to the court for a successful counterclaim.In addition, even if you do not have any counterclaims against the other party, you can make logarithms or deductions against the other party.So you should consider these possibilities early on.
Reconciliation
In practice, many cases do not go through the entire trial process and settle during the early or middle stages of the trial process.As far as the plaintiff is concerned, the longer the trial process, the higher the costs. When the case is delayed, there will be more complicated problems - such as the problem of witnesses; loss of evidence; loss of confidence and so on.Even if you are not in the mood to delay the case and want to close the case as soon as possible, you should be prepared and ready to settle with your opponent at any time.Sometimes, the strategy of war and peace may be more constructive.
Other applications
The above is not the only thing you can do.You may also consider other suitable options.For example, the "security for costs" for filing a lawsuit against the other party. Or in some cases, the other party will keep some of the documents mentioned in its pleadings, which can obviously be used as the basis of your defense, and will not be disclosed to you.At this time, you should apply to the court to compel the other party to hand over the relevant documents, so that you can analyze your case in a clearer context.
3.Should the matter be brought to court???
In most construction and engineering contracts, an arbitration clause is included in place of formal court proceedings to settle disputes - this is called an arbitration clause.Sometimes these terms are stated in the contract, but in many cases, it is unclear due to the need to refer to the terms of other contracts (for example, in the contract between the owner and the judge).You should carefully consider the pros and cons of using arbitration or other options in your favor - often it takes time or even months for all parties to appoint a suitable arbitrator to preside over the proceedings before the dispute is settled in arbitration.You should also take this opportunity to prepare your case well.
4.Should the matter of contention be moved to a special category of the court???
Such as construction and arbitration categoriesIn High Court cases, certain cases should be heard by judges in the construction and arbitration category, such as those relating to industrial works.You should consider moving the issue to a special category of the court, which will appoint a special and experienced judge to hear the case.
5. costs
Every civil action inevitably involves the issue of costs. However, you can save more time and more money if you keep the related litigation costs under control.In this regard, an experienced lawyer can indeed help you.You can save your time and money if you hire a lawyer who can represent you more efficiently in litigation matters.In contrast, your opponents must face the difficulties of their cases and the heavy burden of litigation costs.When you face a civil lawsuit, you have to think twice about how to deal with it.Because there are so many variables, you may not always be able to see where you need to go.Please seek your attorney's assistance as soon as the lawsuit begins.You will also find that you may save more time and money as a result.
如何處理訴訟
1. 民事訴訟程序之簡介
非常簡要地道出， 一宗法庭案件或訴訟可以分為三個階段。 分別是狀書階段； 交換證據階段； 及聆訊階段。
狀書階段
這個階段涉及控辯雙方交換狀書， 即就有關案件的事實概況及案情向法庭及對方作出交代申索或答辯的法律文書。 狀書通常包括:申索陳述書； 抗辯書及反申索書； 答覆書及抗辯及反申索書。 訴訟雙方是通過此等狀書交代各自案情的重要事實。 這階段對於案件以後在法庭程序上得以順利進行十分重要，亦是整個訴訟程序的基本依歸。
交換證據階段
在這個階段涉及案件中訴訟各方交換證據以支持其狀書內所申述的案情。 這通常涉及文件，如單據；付款證，又或其他證據, 如錄音帶；有關品質或價值的專家報告等。 證人陳述書即所有證人將會在審訊當中供述的供詞內容，亦必須在此階段交換。
聆訊階段
這是法官案件審訊的階段。 在這階段中各方必須將所有文書準備好並呈交法官。 所有證人必須到庭出席聆訊並由法庭及對方盤問作供。 如案件是高等法院案件， 訴訟各方必須由大律師代表出席審訊。 當案件審訊完成後， 法官會就案件作出斷案之判決。
2. 當你被對方控告時， 你應該如何處理?
應向法庭呈文“抗辯通知書”
很多人都以為當牽涉入民事案件時， 只要不向法庭或對方作出任何回應， 原告人都不能再向你作出進一步之行動及索償。 這是一個很嚴重錯誤的觀念-------而且切勿在法庭程序中進行這種”捉迷藏”遊戲。 在法律規定下，向你提出控告之原告人都會在你缺席之情況下而獲得勝訴。 這種情況法律上稱為“缺席判決”。 假若你不對申索作出回應， 這會是對自己不利的行徑 – 你有可能失去答辯機會。 如果你不希望失去此機會， 應立即對控告作出回應或抗辯。
系統及有效地闡述你的抗辯
你必須要確定一個有效而準確的答辯回應原告人之申索。 很多時，你會認為及相信自己在道德倫理上不需要向有關申索負責； 但這並不代表你可以在法庭上以此視作為一種有效的抗辯。 最重要的是你應該明白什麼才是你應該作為抗辯的理由。
戰略
原告人之捷徑
假若你不能夠闡述你的抗辯內容或你不能夠有效地作出一個正確的抗辯， 對方就可能會向法庭提出簡易程序並繞過正式審訴， 要求法庭對你作出“簡易判決”。 原告人通過申請，往往便可根據此”簡易程序”向法庭獲取勝訴判決。 所以，有效地闡述你的抗辯對你是十分重要的。 你應該常把這個概念牢記於心避免甚至斷絕你的對手可以利用“簡易判決”程序而取得判決書。
反訴??以戰求和??
當你面對原告人申索， 你通常都會感到很大的壓力， 尤其是有關連串的金錢申索及法律費用。 但假若你向對手提出反訴或反申索，你的對手亦同樣面對相同的壓力。也就迫使他面對反申索危機。 有些情況下，即使你確實有一更大的申索，你的對手可能會故意地首先向你提出訴訟以混淆或扭曲事實真理。 如案情容許， 你可以採取主動，甚至嘗試你的捷徑-申請“簡易判決”程序， 向法庭申請反告書的勝訴。 另外， 即使你並無有任何針對對方之反申索，你亦可向對方提出對數或抵扣。 所以你應該及早在初段考慮這些可能性。
和解
實際上， 很多案件並不會經過整個審訊程序，並在審訊進程的初段或中段期間和解。 就原告人方面， 審訊程序越長代表所須訟費越高， 當案件被拖延的情況下會出現更多複雜化的問題---例如證人的問題； 證據流失； 失去信心等等。 即使你沒有抱著拖延案件的心態並且想盡快完結案件， 你亦應該作好準備並隨時與你的對手進行和解。 有些時候，以戰謀和的策略或許更有建設性。
其他申請
以上並非你唯一的做法。你亦可考慮其他合適的方案。 例如向對方提出訴訟之“訟費保證”。 又或有些情況下，對方會把某些曾在其狀書中提及的，明顯是可以作為你的抗辯依據之有關文件收藏而不向你透露。 這時， 你應該向法庭申請迫使對方交出該等有關之文件， 藉此你可以在更清晰的情況下分析你的案件。
3. 應該將爭論事情帶到法庭嗎???
在大多數建築及工程的合約中， 都會包括了有關仲裁的條款來代替正式法庭訴訟來處理爭議------這稱為仲裁條款。 有時該等條款都會註明在合約當中， 但更多情況由於需要參照另外其他合約的條款(例如在業主與大判之合約內)而會出現不清楚的情況。 你應該小心地考慮用仲裁的方法處理爭論事情之利弊或其他對你有利的方案 - 通常在經過仲裁處理爭論之前，訴訟各方都需要時間甚至數月來委任適合仲裁官來主持有關之仲裁程序。 你亦應把握這時機來好好準備你的案件。
4. 應該將爭論事情轉移到法院的專門類別處理嗎???
---例如建築及仲裁類別
在高等法院案件中， 某些案件是應該由建築及仲裁類別的法官來審理如有關工業工程之案件。 你應該考慮將該爭論事情轉移到法院的專門類別下處理， 法院將會特別委派一名專門及富經驗的法官來審理該案。
5. 訟費
每一宗民事訴訟都不可避免地牽涉訟費的問題。 但是， 如果你可將有關的訴訟費用開支控制得宜， 你就可以省下更多的時間又更多的金錢。 在這一方面，一個經驗豐富的律師的確可以幫助你。 若果你聘用的律師能更有效率代表你處理有關訴訟的事務， 你就可以節省你的時間及金錢。 相對地，你的對手必須面對其案件帶來的困難及訴訟費用沉重負擔。
當你面對一件民事訴訟案時， 你必須要再三考慮清楚如何應付。 由於變數繁多，你未必能一舉洞悉先機。 請在訴訟起始時從速尋求你的律師協助處理有關的訴訟的事務。 你亦會發現可能因而省卻更多時間及開支。
