Braintree, MA personal injury attorney Michael Conley discusses the process for bringing a personal injury lawsuit in MA. He explains that in a subset of cases, settlements are reached without proceeding to court. However, when a case does go to court, it begins with the filing of a complaint—a formal document alleging that the defendant was negligent and caused harm to the client. The defendant then responds with an answer, which typically denies all allegations, regardless of the circumstances.

This response initiates the Discovery process, which involves two main components for the client. The first is paper discovery, consisting of written questions that must be answered under oath and the production of relevant documents, which are usually gathered in advance. The second component is the client deposition, during which the client appears at the opposing lawyer’s office to answer questions under oath for as long as required.

Once these steps are completed, the client’s active role generally concludes unless the case proceeds to trial. Most of this process, including Discovery, typically unfolds over an 18-month period in accordance with the court’s tracking order. He notes that much of the work occurs behind the scenes and does not require direct client involvement. These are the primary events that clients experience during the course of their case.