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What legal steps do I need to take if my Ohio-based business is sued for negligence by a customer?

Picture of Chris Battis By   ·  1 minute read

If your Ohio-based business is sued for negligence by a customer, there are several legal steps you should take to protect your business and resolve the dispute.

  1. Review the Complaint: The first step you should take is to review the complaint filed against your business by the customer. The complaint will specify the legal grounds for the lawsuit, the damages the customer is seeking, and the deadline for responding.
  2. Engage Legal Counsel: You should hire an experienced attorney to represent your business in the lawsuit. Your attorney will help you gather evidence, prepare a defense, and negotiate a settlement if appropriate.
  3. Respond to the Complaint: You have a limited amount of time to respond to the complaint, usually within 28 days of being served. Your attorney will file a response on behalf of your business, either agreeing to or denying the allegations in the complaint, and raising any legal defenses you may have.
  4. Gather Evidence: Your attorney will help you gather relevant evidence to support your defense, such as witness statements, photographs, and documents.
  5. Discovery: Both sides will engage in discovery, which is a process of exchanging evidence and information before trial. This includes depositions, interrogatories, and requests for documents.
  6. Settlement Negotiations: If appropriate, your attorney will negotiate a settlement with the customer's attorney to resolve the dispute outside of court. Settlements often involve payment of a lump sum of money to the customer in exchange for their agreement to drop the lawsuit.
  7. Trial: If a settlement cannot be reached, the case will go to trial. You may choose to have a jury or a judge decide your case. Your attorney will present evidence and arguments on your behalf, and the customer's attorney will do the same. The decision will be made based on the evidence and arguments presented.

If your business is found liable for negligence, you may be required to pay damages to the customer. It is important to speak with an attorney to understand your legal rights and obligations, and to take preventative measures to avoid future lawsuits.