Heckman & O'Connor, P.C. - Untitled 1

The Discovery Process in Civil Lawsuits

After a lawsuit is filed, both the plaintiff (the person or company suing) and the defendant (the person or company being sued) can engage in a process called discovery. Discovery is conducted before trial. The purpose of discovery is to allow a...

A Court's Authority to Resolve Disputes

The framers of the United States Constitution separated the functions of government among three separate branches of government--legislative (the Congress), executive (the President), and the judiciary (the courts). The goal was to...

Sunshine Laws

Sunshine Laws

States have enacted Sunshine Laws to ensure governmental integrity and accountability. Sunshine Laws require governmental bodies (commissions, boards, advisory committees, and agencies) to hold meetings,...

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

Congress Gives U.S. Supreme Court Authority to Adopt Court Rules

The U.S. Congress passed a law authorizing the Supreme Court of the United States to adopt rules of practice and procedure for federal court...

Jury Consultants

It is becoming more common for attorneys to hire jury consultants to assist in the selection of jurors, especially for high-profile cases. The jury serves a vital function in the American legal system as the trier of fact. Its role is to weigh...