A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the September 2015 webcast, Civil Practice in the General District Court: Tips for Practicing in an Often Overlooked Forum.
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to the General District Court
- The Legal Framework
- Applicable statutes
- Court Rules: not the same as Circuit Court!
- Deciding to Go to General District Court
- Good decisions, bad decisions, and new opportunities
- Common cases: Landlord/Tenant, Debt Collection, and Personal Injury
- Best Practices
- Throughout the process: complaint, discovery (or lack thereof), trial, and appeal
- Shortcuts: using forms and affidavits
- Avoiding common mistakes
If you could resolve your civil case faster—in a matter of months rather than a year or two—wouldn’t you do so? If it were less expensive, wouldn’t that make the decision even easier? You should seriously consider the General District Court.
The General District Court is clearly not the answer for all civil cases, but with its jurisdictional maximum recently being increased to $25,000, it is an increasingly attractive option. Cases move quickly, with limited discovery—a mixed blessing to be sure. But District Court is not merely Circuit Court in miniature: rules and practices differ, and the lawyer who thrives in District Court will know the differences.
This seminar is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in civil practice before the General District Court. Our faculty of two highly regarded judges, and a lawyer with extensive experience in that forum, will share their insights from both sides of the bench. If you haven’t appeared before the General District Court before, you’ll be ready to do so when we’re done; if you’re already a veteran, you’ll get better. Join us for an informative two hours.