Texas Trial Law
Most civil litigation cases are handled in the district and appellate courts of the State of Texas. The courts follow the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure in order to ensure trial litigation is handled fairly. In order to pursue Texas trial litigation, certain time requirements must be met and rules of procedure followed.
Trial Litigation in Texas
To file suit in the state of Texas, you must meet the statute of limitation requirements for the type of case you are pursuing. Examples of statute of limitations for various types of cases are:
- Professional malpractice – two years
- Personal injury - two years
- Fraud – four years
- Contracts – specific performance on real estate contracts is four years
When the statute of limitation begins it can vary and Texas law does allow contracts to amend the statute of limitations, so it is best to consult with an experienced Texas trial attorney to determine the statute of limitations for your specific case. Assuming your statute of limitations has not expired, trial law in Texas outlines the steps in filing a petition with the court, notifying the respondent of your intent to file suit, the discovery process, filing motions, settling before trial, litigating the case, and receiving a judgment. Texas trial lawyers are knowledgeable in all areas of the court proceedings and will partner with you to achieve the best possible outcome.
Texas trial litigation statistics
In the fiscal year 2009 for Texas district courts, 552,000 new civil litigation cases were added. Of those, 63.8 percent of the cases were family law cases and about 25 percent of the cases were personal injury, contract or tax cases. So a relatively low percentage of business related cases were actually brought to court for litigation. An even smaller percentage of cases, .4 percent of the 440,860 cases that were disposed in 2009, were jury decisions. Therefore, many civil cases are settled out of court or before they reach the jury.
Contact Us
Regardless of the type of dispute you are facing, we can help through Texas trial litigation or negotiation of a settlement. Our attorneys are fully capable of assisting you with trial law in Texas and have been certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization as specialists in such areas as civil trial law, tax law, bankruptcy law, estate planning and probate law, and employment and labor law, demonstrating the depth and diversity of our expertise.
