New York Civil Litigation Process

As an associate attorney with London Fischer, LLP in New York, Douglas Lazzaro defends commercial transportation and car leasing businesses. As a lawyer, Douglas Lazzaro’s areas of expertise include transportation liability and civil litigation.

Filing summons and complaints is the first step in a civil lawsuit in New York. These documents serve as notice to the defendant of a lawsuit, as well as the basis for the dispute and the plaintiff's demands. The summons and complaint also inform the defendant that they have 30 days to respond to the complaint or face default.

The defendant files an answer after being served with the summons and complaint. In most cases, the defendant has 20 to 30 days to file an answer. The defendant has 20 days to respond if they were personally served inside the state of New York. The answer is a brief response to the complaint's charges, usually admitting or denying depending on the defendant's knowledge and belief.

Discovery is the next step in the lawsuit process. The discovery process entails the parties exchanging data and documents. Using interrogatories and depositions to get the other side to answer specific questions is typically performed in discovery.

Each party may practice pretrial motions at any time after pleadings are made. A petition for summary judgment or a request to dismiss the lawsuit are examples of pre-trial motions.

Expertise in Construction Law

A lawyer and a graduate of the University of Miami’s law program, Attorney Douglas Lazzaro has been working for New York-based law firm London Fischer, LLP since 2018. Here, Douglas Lazzaro provides clients assistance in transportation liability.

London Fischer, LLP also offers advisory services on matters of construction and real estate law. With offices on both coasts, the firm has represented clients from various building industry professions, such as contractors, subcontractors, real estate property owners, and insurers.

The company specializes in personal injury, insurance, property damage, and construction delay claims. The firm’s lawyers bring to each case an understanding of the law in these areas combined with practical knowledge of the construction industry. Lawyers with the firm routinely deal with the complex state-specific liability rules, workers’ compensation, insurance, and other risk transfer methods in helping their clients resolve their disputes. Moreover, the firm works to assist clients with resolving their issues promptly, focusing on tailoring their counsel to each client's needs.