what if the defendant's attorney asks questions of plaintiff first

by Brenden Smitham 9 min read

If the defendant does not respond, and the judge enters a default judgment, the judge will typically give the plaintiff whatever the plaintiff has asked for in the petition. For this reason, when a defendant, who has been sued, hires a civil attorney, the attorney’s first step is typically to file an answer in court.

Once the plaintiff's attorney has asked a witness all of the questions he has prepared, then the defendant's attorney gets an opportunity to ask questions, known as cross-examining the witness. After the defendant's cross-examination, the plaintiff can redirect more questions.

Full Answer

How does the plaintiff respond to the first set of interrogatories?

Jun 18, 2014 · The lawyer may object, may point out that the client’s position is legally foolish or pointless, but in the end he will do what the client tells him to. Back to the question of whether a plaintiff (or defendant for that matter) gets to ask questions at depositions: If you are feeding your lawyer questions without listening to your lawyer’s ...

How does the defendant's attorney prepare for a trial?

May 18, 2017 · If the defendant's attorney asks the plaintiff for information not requested by the judge, must the plaintiff provide that info? Revision of child support orders in Colorado. Judge asked for sworn financial statement only of both parties.

How does the defendant want to respond to the pleadings?

Oct 30, 2014 · The Plaintiff’s Deposition: How it can Make or Break Your Case: A deposition is the process in which a witness is asked questions under oath by an attorney. TEXT CALL (631) 621-6183 | (516) 240-9904

What are direct examination questions in a personal injury case?

TO: HAL FRAMPTON, ESQUIRE, ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS: The Plaintiff, through the undersigned attorney, responds to Defendants’ First Set of Interrogatories as follows: General Objections 1. By providing information in response to these Interrogatories, Plaintiff does not concede the accuracy of Defendant’s definitions, assumptions or ...

When can lawyers ask leading questions?

When a lawyer calls an adverse or hostile witness (a witness whose relationship to the lawyer's client is such that his testimony is likely to be prejudicial) on direct examination, the lawyer can ask leading questions as on cross-examination.Sep 9, 2019

Why does the plaintiff prosecution always go first?

The lawyer for the plaintiff or government usually goes first. The lawyer sums up and comments on the evidence in the most favorable light for his or her side, showing how it proved what he or she had to prove to prevail in the case.Sep 9, 2019

Who goes first in direct examination?

The defendant's lawyer examines the witnesses first on direct examination, then the plaintiff's lawyer cross-examines. The defendant's case continues in essentially the same manner as the plaintiff's until the defendant's lawyer states to the court, "Defendant rests."

Who presents its evidence first the plaintiff or the defendant and why?

Once the attorneys for both sides have presented their evidence, they each will give closing arguments. This is their opportunity to summarize for the jury, and draw attention to the facts that support their side. The closing arguments are not evidence. The plaintiff or prosecutor goes first, followed by the defendant.

Why does the prosecution go first in cases?

These statements usually are short like an outline and do not involve witnesses or evidence. The prosecutor makes an opening statement first because the Government has the burden of proving that the defendant committed the crime.

What are the 14 steps of a trial?

Terms in this set (14)step 1: pre-trial proceedings. ... step 2: jury is selected. ... step 3: opening statement by plaintiff or prosecution. ... step 4: opening statement by defense. ... step 5: direct examination by plaintiff/ prosecution. ... step 6: cross examination by defense. ... step 7: motions to dismiss or ask for a directed verdict.More items...

What are the most common objections in court?

The four most common objections in court are hearsay, relevance, speculation, and argumentative.

Who proceeds first during closing arguments?

The plaintiffThe plaintiff, having the burden of proof, usually has the right to give her closing argument first, followed by the defendant's closing argument. In many jurisdictions, the plaintiff may use all of the allotted time, or the plaintiff may reserve time (e.g., ten minutes) to use after the defendant's closing argument.

Can you call a witness twice?

It reasons that employing such a strategy quite literally allows you to cross-examine the adverse witness twice, giving the trier of fact two opportunities to see the weaknesses in the defense as well as to hear your client's story through the words of the opposing party.Aug 10, 2018

Do defendants see evidence before trial?

Unlike prosecutors, defendants can't call on police agencies to help them investigate and respond to evidence they find out about for the first time at trial. Thus, every jurisdiction (each state and the federal government) has discovery rules requiring prosecutors to disclose evidence to defendants prior to trial.

Does the plaintiff name come first?

For civil case titles, specify the first plaintiff and defendant. Civil cases usually involve a dispute between organisations or individuals.

Who gives the first opening statement in a trial?

An opening statement is made by the attorney for the plaintiff. The attorney for the defendant may then make an opening statement. The purpose of opening statements is to outline to the jury what each side contends the evidence will establish. A general idea of what the case is about is thus presented to the jury.