What Are Potential Damages That Are Awarded In Civil Cases And How Are They Calculated?

One of the first lessons people learn the hard way with civil cases is that winning your case and getting a judgment doesn’t necessarily get you paid. Sometimes, your win is just a nice piece of paper that you can hang on the wall saying some guy owes you $20,000, but in reality, he’s never going to pay you.

There are a number of factors and formulas that determine how damages get calculated. The main goal is to put the injured party back or as close as possible to back to where they were before the injurious event. So, if somebody was supposed to pay you a specific sum of money, the damages are the amount of money they were supposed to pay you, and perhaps any additional fees and charges you incurred as a result of their failure to pay. But usually, unless there’s a physical injury involved, you cannot recover for emotional distress or other intangible damages.

One question I always get is whether you can make the other side pay your legal fees, and the answer is that usually you cannot make the other party pay your legal fees. In a civil rights or employment case, you may be able to recover your legal fees, but you won’t be able to do so in the typical civil case. This is one of the most frustrating things in a typical civil dispute: that even if you win, you’re still stuck with your own legal fees. The good news, if you can call it that, is that the other side is also stuck with theirs.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On Filing A Civil Lawsuit In Wisconsin?

Statutes of limitations for civil lawsuits in Wisconsin vary depending on what sort of lawsuit is being filed. For some employment suits, it can be as short as 90 days. For other sorts of cases, it can be as long as 10 years. You should always err on the side of caution and consult an attorney sooner rather than later, since some statutes of limitations are quite short.

What Can Be Done If I Am Taken To Court And I Lose My Civil Case?

Usually, there’s some room to negotiate after a case is decided. Simply winning a case and getting a judgment does not necessarily put money in the other guy’s pocket.

In some cases, I will file an appeal or a motion for reconsideration on behalf of my client, and while they are pending, I will negotiate with the lawyer on the other side and get them to take a discount if my client stops appealing or fighting the judgment. This sometimes works very well. Even when you’re in a bad position, there’s almost always something that a good attorney can do to make it a little better.

Can A Civil Case Be Settled At Any Point During The Case, Even If You Are In The Middle Of Litigation?

Yes, a civil case can be settled at any point. There are cases that settle in the middle of a trial or even while the jury is out deliberating. You can always negotiate a settlement, even if you’re in litigation.

For more information on General Civil Litigation in Wisconsin, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (920) 759-8114 today.