Who Controls the Trial Schedule?

For those not regularly involved in litigation, the court’s schedule can seem both mysterious and slow. In some jurisdictions, the process can be as laborious as getting all the parties together for a scheduling meeting where the clerk of court sits down with a notebook and coordinates the date. Thankfully, most courts have moved beyond…

Who pays the cost of Sanctions?

Sanctions are one tool courts can use to keep attorneys and clients in line when they are not complying with the court’s rulings or abusing the legal process. While generally a last step, issuing sanctions can be a powerful tool to get someone’s attention, punish wrong-doing, and even set a precedent for an entire industry.…

What is Discovery Abuse?

When you have a case pending before the court, the last thing you want to do is frustrate a judge and get reprimanded or even sanctioned for discovery abuse. Cooperating with the discovery process can be costly, time-consuming, and stressful, but it’s an important part of the legal process. What is discovery abuse and why…

What Court Should You Sue In?

If you’re filing a civil case in Utah, one of the first decisions you will make is which court you want to handle your case. In some situations, you may have a choice between courts and jurisdictions and your litigation attorney can advise on which venue makes the most sense. Similarly, if you’ve been served…

What is an Adhesion Contract?

As an individual and as a business owner, you’ve probably signed more contracts than you realize as our world is full of standard form contracts you agree to when you log onto a website, download a new piece of software, order from a supplier, or purchase insurance. In many cases, you don’t have the opportunity…

Limits on Employee Vehicle Use

Many businesses own vehicles that they then provide to the employees to use as part of their work. Indeed, it is from the use of these vehicles that many lawsuits stem. Employee use of these vehicles for business purposes is not taxable income as it is part of the businesses’ cost. But there are limits…

What Can a Private Investigator Do?

Private investigators are used in a wide variety of situations, from family law to employee litigation, if you want to know what someone is doing or someone else is interested in you. If you’re involved in a lawsuit, you may find that a private investigator helps answer key questions like whether someone is as injured…

Advantages of Video Depositions

Taking depositions is an important step in the litigation process and, occasionally, one side or the other chooses to take a video recording of the deposition. This isn’t always done as it’s not always necessary, but at times, a video deposition can be a powerful tool. A deposition is a chance for the opposing counsel…