Stages of the Litigation Process
August 12, 2022

Whether you have been wronged by another and are considering legal action, or you are faced with the prospect of being sued, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the legal process. Regardless of the type of lawsuit, the stages of the litigation process tend to be quite similar. We discuss these phases below.


Investigation


Step one is to find an attorney with the knowledge and experience to skillfully resolve your legal matter. Your attorney and their support team will launch a thorough investigation into your case, during which you should be available to answer any questions that arise.

 

Your lawyer will likely request documents from various parties with knowledge of your situation, and may even hire a private investigator to do some in-depth digging. Your legal team will use this information to create a timeline of events and set a strong foundation for your case.


Initial Filings


After your attorneys have completed their investigation, they will draft the initial filings required to bring your claim to court. This is called a complaint. The complaint outlines all parties involved, including each Plaintiff and Defendant. It describes why the jurisdiction you are filing in is appropriate, lists each claim and fact of your case, and makes an initial request for relief to the court.

 

A Defendant responds to the complaint by filing what is referred to as an answer. Collectively, complaints and answers are known as pleadings. The answer will include a response and defense to each individual allegation in the complaint. Defendants may also file a motion to dismiss, which is a request to have the court throw out the lawsuit. It should be noted that this is a common tactic used by defense lawyers, and does not mean that the Plaintiff’s case is weak.


Discovery


The third stage of the litigation process is often the longest. Discovery involves document requests, depositions, and legal interviews. Each of these are intended to fully flesh out the facts of the case. Although discovery requests can be time consuming, they are often needed to get each party’s stance in writing. Each side will send a series of requests to opposing counsel. You will need to work closely with your attorney during this process.

 

Depositions, which are formal interviews transcribed by court reporters, can be the most difficult part of discovery. It is critical to prepare before your deposition. Your lawyer will go over potential questions so that you are less likely to be surprised during the interview. As you will come to rely on your attorneys during this process, it is extremely important to feel comfortable with them.


Pre-Trial


Shortly before your trial date, there may be a settlement conference. This is where parties and their counsel meet in an attempt to resolve matters before trying the case in court. Pre-trial discussions can be successful, allowing you to avoid trial entirely. But if the matter cannot be resolved out of court, pre-trial work will take place. Your attorneys will set the stage for evidence and witnesses to appear at trial, and handle motions that may need to be filed or responded to.


Trial


Trials occur before a judge, and sometimes a jury. They can be quite stressful, and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days or weeks. If your trial is a jury trial, the first step is something called voir dire. Voir dire is when attorneys choose jury members by asking questions designed to determine a juror's biases.

 

The length of trial varies widely, but it starts with both parties making opening statements. Then evidence and witnesses will be introduced. Finally, closing arguments will be made. The judge or jury will deliberate and return with a verdict. The verdict is the final decision, often assigning fault and an award to one or more parties.


Appeal


If either party feels as though the trial was faulty, or the final verdict was incorrect, they may appeal the decision to a higher court. This court will review the facts to determine if any legal error occurred. Keep in mind that this is a very high bar to meet, and it is rare for appeals to be granted.


Contact Deppman Law PLC Today

 

If you are facing a lawsuit or wish to bring a lawsuit against someone who has caused you harm, the skilled litigation team at Deppman Law PLC can help. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about your case.

 

Buying a Home With Someone You’re Not Married To

July 16, 2026
Buying a home with a partner, friend, or family member can make homeownership more attainable and allow two people to invest in property together. But when co-owners are not married, many of the legal protections and rules that apply to married couples do not necessarily apply in the same way. Before purchasing a home together, it’s important to think beyond the down payment and mortgage. Considerations such as how expenses will be divided and what happens if one person's circumstances change are much easier to address before closing than after a disagreement arises. Decide How You Will Own the Property One of the first decisions co-buyers will need to make is how title to the property will be held. The form of ownership can affect each person's rights in the property and what happens to an owner's interest if that person dies. The deed should also accurately reflect the ownership arrangement the buyers intend. A 50/50 split may make sense when both people are contributing equally, but that may not always be the case. One buyer might provide most of the down payment while the other contributes more toward the monthly mortgage or improvements to the property. Those differences should be discussed before the purchase. Simply contributing more money does not necessarily mean that a person will automatically receive a greater ownership interest or be entitled to reimbursement later. Buyers should understand how their contributions relate to their legal ownership and document their intentions accordingly. Plan for the Costs of Owning the Home The purchase price is only the beginning of the financial relationship between co-owners. Mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, routine maintenance, and major repairs all create ongoing obligations. A written agreement can establish how those expenses will be divided and how decisions about the property will be made. It can also address less predictable situations. If the roof needs to be replaced, for example, are both owners responsible for half? What if one owner pays for a significant renovation that increases the property's value? What happens if one person temporarily cannot contribute toward the mortgage? Working through these questions in advance can prevent uncertainty about whether a payment was intended as a shared expense, a loan, or an additional investment in the property. Co-owners should also understand that ownership of the home and responsibility for the mortgage are separate issues. The names appearing on the deed determine ownership, while the loan documents determine who is legally responsible for repaying the mortgage. The way those documents are structured can have significant consequences for both parties. Consider What Happens If One Person Wants Out It may feel uncomfortable to discuss the end of a living arrangement while preparing to buy a home together, but it is one of the most important conversations unmarried co-buyers can have. Circumstances change. One person may want to relocate, experience a financial setback, enter a new relationship, or simply decide that joint ownership no longer works. Without an agreement, the owners may disagree about whether the property should be sold, whether one person can buy out the other, or how the home's value should be determined. A co-ownership agreement can establish a process before those issues arise. It might address how a buyout will work, how the property will be valued, how sale proceeds will be divided, and what happens if the owners cannot agree about whether to sell. The agreement can also address what should happen if an owner dies and how that person's interest in the property will be handled. Contact Deppman Law PLC  Buying a home together is a significant financial commitment, regardless of the relationship between the buyers. Taking the time to establish a clear ownership arrangement and put expectations in writing can help protect both parties and reduce the potential for disputes later. If you are considering purchasing Vermont real estate with a partner, friend, or family member, contact Deppman Law PLC for guidance on structuring the purchase and creating a co-ownership agreement that addresses your needs.

Buying a Small Business in Vermont and What to Know Before You Sign

June 17, 2026
Buying an existing business can be an appealing alternative to starting one from scratch. The customer base, employees, equipment, vendor relationships, and operating history may already be in place. But a business that looks successful from the outside can come with obligations and risks that are not immediately apparent. Before signing a purchase agreement, buyers should understand exactly what obligations may come with the transaction and whether the business is in the financial and legal position the seller has represented. Look Beyond the Financial Statements Financial records are an important part of evaluating a potential acquisition, but due diligence should extend well beyond revenue and profitability. A buyer should review the business's tax records, debts, pending or threatened litigation, insurance coverage, licenses and permits, and any liens or other claims involving business assets. Existing contracts also deserve careful attention. Agreements with customers, vendors, suppliers, lenders, and other third parties can have a significant impact on the value of the business. Some contracts may be transferred to a new owner, while others require consent or contain provisions allowing the other party to terminate the agreement after a change in ownership. If the business operates from leased property, the commercial lease can be equally important. Buyers should understand how much time remains on the lease, renewal options, rent increases, maintenance obligations, and whether the landlord must approve an assignment or a new lease. Vermont buyers should also be aware of state-specific obligations that can arise in connection with a business transfer. For example, Vermont law includes notice requirements involving certain bulk transfers of business assets and provisions that may affect a buyer that continues the operations of an existing employer. Know the Value of What You Are Buying Employees can be one of a business's most valuable assets, particularly when customer relationships or specialized knowledge depend on particular people. Before closing, buyers should understand the existing workforce, compensation and benefits, employment agreements, accrued obligations, and any ongoing employment disputes. In Vermont, acquiring and continuing an existing business can also have implications for unemployment insurance. Under certain circumstances, an acquiring business may be treated as a successor employer, and the predecessor's experience-rating record may transfer to the successor. Buyers should also identify precisely which physical and intangible assets are included in the purchase. Depending on the business, that might include equipment, inventory, vehicles, intellectual property, websites and domain names, customer information, trade names, or other valuable rights. It is important to determine not only that the seller possesses these assets, but also whether they are subject to liens or security interests that need to be addressed before closing. Asset Purchase or Equity Purchase? One of the most important decisions in structuring an acquisition is whether to purchase the assets of the business or the ownership interests in the company itself. In an asset purchase, the buyer generally purchases specifically identified assets and assumes only the liabilities identified in the agreement, subject to applicable law. This structure can give the parties greater ability to define what is — and is not — part of the transaction. In an equity purchase, the buyer purchases ownership of the existing company. The business entity continues to own its assets and remain subject to its contractual obligations and liabilities. That makes a careful investigation of the company's history particularly important. Neither structure is automatically better. Tax consequences, contracts, licenses, liabilities, financing, and the buyer's plans for the business can all influence how a transaction should be structured. Contact Deppman Law PLC Purchasing a business is a significant investment, and issues discovered after closing can be far more difficult and expensive to address than those identified during negotiations. An attorney can help evaluate the proposed transaction, conduct legal due diligence, identify potential risks, and prepare or review the agreements necessary to protect the buyer's interests. If you are considering buying a business in Vermont, contact Deppman Law PLC to learn more about the acquisition process and the steps you can take before signing.