The Lawsuit Guide exists for one reason: to help your clients. Written by Inner Circle member Ned Good and University of Montana law professor Greg Munro, the Guide is a resource for any injured person caught in the turmoil of a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Writing to address common questions and issues for clients, Ned Good and Greg Munro provide clear explanations for plaintiffs in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Many cases settle, and this book helps answer fundamental questions for those clients. But sometimes clients are forced into litigation by an insurance company, corporation, or governmental agency who refuses to make a reasonable offer for their loss. Litigation can be stressful for you and your staff, but it is much more stressful and uncertain for clients who have never been through the process before. And as you know, litigation can last for years and include all types of complexities and complications. This book helps your clients understand the process.
Good and Munro answer some fundamental questions for clients, such as: How do I pay my health-care bills? What do I send the insurance company? What is a deposition? Will I have to testify in court? And most importantly: Do I hire a lawyer? And if so, how do I find the right one? This book provides support for why people who have sustained a personal injury need counsel.
The Lawsuit Guide will assist your clients with these questions and more. It will help your clients to be informed, navigate obstacles, reduce common questions for you and your staff, and assist you to obtain the best possible outcome for your client.
Ordering more than one copy for your clients? See our 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 copy package deals!
- Publisher's Note
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- The Purpose of This Book
- An Introduction to the Civil Justice System
- Part 1: Before You File a Lawsuit
- What It Means to Find a Lawyer
- What to Expect Once You Find a Lawyer
- How to Tell Your Story
- Part 2: Roles during Claim Handling and the Lawsuit
- Coping with Traumatic Injury or Death
- Your Role in the Claim Process
- Insurance and Benefits
- Part 3: Stages in the Pretrial Process
- Investigation
- Filing a Lawsuit
- Discovery
- Motions, Pretrial Conference, and Pretrial Order
- Part 4: Settlement and Trial
- Settlement
- What to Expect in Court
- Elements of a Trial
- After the Trial
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- Index
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What Legal Leaders Are Saying
— Keith Mitnik, senior trial counsel for Morgan and Morgan and author of Don’t Eat the Bruises: How to Foil their Plans to Spoil Your CaseTrial lawyers spend a lot of time honing their skills so they can make a difference for their clients. Trial Guides has been a touchstone for plaintiffs’ lawyers in this never-ending process. But what resources are there for clients? After all, it is their case and much of the outcome is in their hands. Finally, there is a book for our clients! This is an amazing guide that will help us give them the self-confidence and knowledge so they too can make a difference.
— Randy Bishop, past president of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association and law school trial coachA clear, detailed, and easy-to-follow roadmap to the civil claim, from initial accident to appeal, perfect for all who are unfamiliar with the process, lay clients and lawyers alike.
— Brian Panish, member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and International Society of Barristers and lead counsel in the largest personal injury verdict in American judicial history ($4.9 billion)Ned Good set the bar for preparing clients and cases for trial and his results at trial were record-breaking. He shares many of his secrets in preparing clients for trial and how to maximize your clients’ recovery. This is a great resource all plaintiffs’ attorneys should have in their arsenal.
— Rick Friedman, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and coauthor of Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving LiabilityThis is the book for personal injury clients that should have been written years ago. We just ordered 100 copies for our office.
— Randi McGinn, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and author of Changing Laws, Saving Lives: How to Take on Corporate Giants and WinAn educated client is better prepared at deposition, a more confident witness, and less fearful throughout the legal process. This remarkable book should be the first thing you hand your client after he or she signs up for legal representation.
— Paul Luvera, past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates and the Washington State Trial Lawyers AssociationThis book is the answer to the chief complaint clients have about their lawyers: the failure to explain. It should be in every lawyer’s office.
— Thomas V. Girardi, past president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and member of the Inner Circle of AdvocatesThe book is terrific . . . . I have a great number of friends who would love to read every word.
— Matthew D. Powell, member of the Million-Dollar Advocates Forum and board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Florida State BarThe Lawsuit Guide is a beautifully written handbook that all personal injury victims should read. It offers clear and concise explanations of what to expect throughout the process from presuit all the way to a jury trial. Going further than answering common questions, The Lawsuit Guide explores the many layers that make up today’s personal injury climate and eloquently navigates readers through the crucial, yet largely overlooked, nuances of case evolution.
— Al Smith, executive director of the Montana Trial Lawyers AssociationThis is a well thought out and written book that will be a very valuable asset for our members. I’m looking forward to being able to offer it to our members so they can better serve their clients.
— Patricia Cotter, Montana Supreme Court justice (2001-2016) and career trial lawyerThe Lawsuit Guide is a long overdue play-by-play handbook for the personal injury plaintiff. From A to Z, it clearly explains how a case proceeds through investigation and into the courtroom. Better yet, it informs you how to best help your lawyer maximize your prospects for success. Be informed—read this book.