Lawsuits - Should you Fight or Settle?

In this day and age where the words “I’ll see you in court” is almost as common as “I’ll see you at lunch”, we no longer get surprised when even nicest people we know are embroiled in some kind of lawsuit. America has become known as the country of litigation. Everywhere you see people suing each other left and right for the smallest things. Now lawsuits don’t exactly come cheap. So the question is, should you fight or settle?

As a rule, it is usually better to settle out of court rather than take a person to trial. It will save both of you a great deal of time, money, effort and aggravation. In deciding whether you should fight or settle, there are many things you have to consider.

"Filing a lawsuit is very expensive..."

First, consider the amount you would have to spend in the lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit is very expensive, especially if big money is at stake. You might be able to save money by settling out of court.

Second, lawsuits can be very time consuming. Consult your lawyer and ask for an estimate on how much time the lawsuit might take. Factor in the delays and other things that are beyond your control.

Third, consider your chances of winning. Look at cases similar to yours. How have they fared? If your chances for winning are slim then it might be best to settle. However, if too much is at stake then maybe it would be better to push through with the lawsuit. So again, it depends on the situation.

Fourth, publicity. You can’t keep a trial private. Anyone can just go in and watch the proceedings. So unless you don’t want bad publicity or your private affairs to be made public, it would be best to settle. There might be sensitive personal information that can be divulged because of the trial. Or they might be important trade secrets of your business that might have to be revealed in order for you to win the case. Consider what you are willing to give up in order for you to win the case. If it’s worth it, then by all means, fight for it. But if not, then let it go and settle.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer. She also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes. In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing calming solar fountains and glass art. Amy invites you to browse her delightful collection of glass vases”