Am I Being Sued?

This is the question that one would often ask yourself when you receive a letter from a legal firm. Many people often receive mail, emails, faxes, notifications etc in their mail or by personal service, courier and several other methods notifying them that legal action has commenced or that it is being contemplated. To the ordinary man on the street, this alone can cause a lot of stress and worry and be the root of unnecessary panic and anxiety.

These are some matters that often require prompt and accurate consideration to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience or consequences. This brings us to the important question : What do I do next? Did I receive a letter of demand or am I being served with court documents? Do I have to act quickly to avoid legal action or serious consequences that would effect my credit rating?

The first thing you should do, is to seek immediate assistance from a lawyer to ensure your rights are protected and are not going to be infringed or curtailed in any way. It must always be borne in mind that “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” and it does not offer the effected party any defence to say “I did not know about it”.

This then leads to another important question. When are legal proceedings commenced against someone? Service of a letter of demand is always the initial step to convey the message to the effected party of another’s intention to commence legal action. Service of the letter of demand although not a pre-requisite in all matters is often the initial stage to initiate the possibility of early negotiation between parties. There are times when parties are unable to agree on the simplest of negotiations that result in a matter being dragged through the courts through lengthy court proceedings only to result in an utter waste of valuable time and expense.

Most disputes are often easily solved merely by successful negotiation in consideration with the legal issues by those who know the law and can apply the law to the given matter with a view to assist in the possibility of successful solution or negotiation between parties. Taking the right steps when faced with an impending legal action is crucial and should never be compromised. An oversight on what may seem to be a minor issue can turn out to be very costly and have long term effects on a persons credit rating, life or work.

We at LAC take you seriously. No matter is left unattended. Quick and prompt legal advise is what you will get when you appoint LAC Lawyers. At LAC we take pride in our ability to provide service that would be ready and accurate in your circumstances.