A Guide to Civil Litigation for Non-Attorneys in Local Government

A single lawsuit can take years to resolve and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but local governments cannot avoid them altogether. A Guide to Civil Litigation for Non-Attorneys in Local Government provides a brief, accessible overview that demystifies and explains the various phases of this daunting process for employees and public officials in local government who are not lawyers.

This guide breaks down the litigation process, beginning with the first indication that someone is considering suing the local government. From there, it walks the reader through the stages of handling a legal dispute, from initial risk assessments and the preservation of evidence to judgment and appeal in lawsuits that go to trial. Though written for readers without a background in law, the guide is also rigorously researched and annotated to make it useful for lawyers who are new to local government.