On TV dramas, an entire case is wound up in an hour. In real life, cases move along in “lawyer time.”Small cases can take months to resolve. Most circuit court cases take a year or more to be tried. This doesn’t mean anyone is delaying – it is just the process. So what takes so long?
Pleadings. Once a complaint is filed, it must be served on the defendant. While this usually happens quickly, it may b delayed more than a month. Once service is made, the defendant has three or four weeks to answer.
Discovery. Once the pleadings are in place, a pretrial order is issued setting the timeframe for conducting discovery, disclosing witnesses and exchanging exhibits. The initial 90-180 day period set by the Court is often extended by the parties with the Court’s permission.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). After discovery ends, the matter is typically scheduled for case evaluation or other ADR procedure. This period lasts about 6 weeks to know if the ADR will settle the case.
Trial Scheduling. After the period of ADR closes, an initial trial date is usually scheduled between four and 12 weeks out. Trials are often adjourned by the parties or the court. A typical delay caused by an adjournment of trial is one to two months.
Michigan Legal Intelligence is authored by W. Jay Brown, a Midland Michigan based civil litigation attorney. The foregoing is intended to be for general information purposes only and is not intended to be specific legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between W. Jay Brown PLC and you. Individuals with legal issues are advised to consult an attorney of your own choosing for advice specific to your situation.
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