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Unsure if you have a case?
 If you have a civil, real estate, guardianship, personal injury or business case, you may call the firm during weekdays.
(The firm does not handle divorce or criminal cases. Potential clients needing representation in divorce or criminal matters may wish to call a local Lawyer Referral Service, such as the Lawyer Referral Service for Anne Arundel County at 410-280-6961).
Facing a lawsuit?
The firm also represents defendants who are threatened with lawsuits in real estate, business, civil or technology matters. Few people enjoy being sued but Arden Law Firm helps defendants analyze and address threatened claims.
A plaintiff must prove their case by the applicable "standard of proof." In civil matters, this is a lower threshold than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" measure that applies in criminal cases.
Civil Terminology in Maryland Court Cases:
- Answer -- The defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint.
- Complaint -- The plaintiff's first pleading that starts a case and outlines the core factual and legal allegations.
- Counter-Claim --- A defendant's claims filed against the person(s) who originally sued.
- Cross-Claim --- A defendant's claims filed against other defendant(s).
- Demand Letter - A written request by a plaintiff seeking money or other relief outside of court.
- Discovery -- The formal process of gathering information from the other side in a court case.
- Interrogatories -- Written questions that must be answered under oath.
- Mediation --- A process where parties discuss claims in front of a neutral third party mediator in an attempt to resolve the conflict outside of court. Mediators are often licensed attorneys.
- Merit Trial -- A trial (particularly in District Court) that will involve deciding the case on the evidence (rather than on a procedural issue).
- Motion -- A request to the Court, usually in writing.
- Motion for Summary Judgment - A request that the Court dispose of some or all of the case based on how the law applies to undisputed facts.
- Request for Production of Documents -- A formal request for another party to turn over documents or make them available for inspection and copying.
- Scheduling Order -- The court's list of required timelines in a particular case.
- Subpoena - A court order requiring someone to give testimony or produce documents.
- Summons - A court order "summoning" a person to court / requiring that they Answer a lawsuit filed against them.
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Litigation
