Civil Lawsuits

Understanding The Charges

Civil lawsuits usually involve private disputes between persons or organizations. For example:

  • Contract disputes (e.g., employee groups, professional associations, wills, probate, estate matters.
  • Injuries sustained in a car accident. See also Personal Injury.
  • Neglect of duty.
  • Residential evictions.
  • Wrongful terminations.
Michael J. Beatrice, P.C., Attorney at Law

The goal of every civil lawsuit is to get you the compensation you deserve. A civil case is usually instigated by a private party—a person or business who has allegedly suffered some kind of damage. In contrast, a criminal case is brought by a prosecutor or other attorney representing the government.

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Civil lawsuits generally proceed through distinct steps: pleadings, discovery, trial, and possibly an appeal. However, parties can halt this process by voluntarily settling at any time. Most cases settle before reaching trial. Arbitration is sometimes another alternative to a trial.

Besides negotiating disputes between persons, Michael J. Beatrice has also represented employee groups and professional associations in negotiating public employment contracts. He has an excellent track record getting his clients the compensation they deserve.

Sample Cases: Civil Lawsuits

Wrongful Termination Case: Two zoning officers appealed a judge’s decision to dismiss their claim that they wrongfully lost their jobs when the town switched to a regional service. Mr. Beatrice argued that town officials had ignored their tenure and a state statute forbidding volunteer firefighters from being fired from governmental jobs for political reasons.
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Education Association Case: The 130-member Waldwick Education Association had worked without a contract for several months. Mr. Beatrice successfully negotiated the settlement.
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Education Association Case: The 365-member Ridgewood Education Association reached a contract settlement with the help of Michael J. Beatrice who helped negotiate the terms of their salary-hike demands, which were the highest in the county at the time.