Lawsuits Against Government Entities
Holding a government party responsible in a lawsuit in the state of Ohio is unique from cases against an individual. In my experience, suing a city, county or even the state requires thorough preparation and a true understanding of the law. Covering the basic differences only scratches the surface!
Notice of Claim It is necessary to take an additional step when initiating a claim against state government. This process can quickly become complicated even for an inexperienced legal team! The claim format, claim submission, time period and other specifications must be properly executed for your claim against the government to be accepted. Then and only then can we file suit!
Timing As with any legal proceedings, cases are governed by a statute or time limit. When it pertains to an injury case against a government entity, this time limit is typically shorter than in a personal injury incident in which a claim is filed against a business or an individual.
These time limits can also vary greatly within a single area! From city, state, county and other geographic areas – Your claim may need to be filed as quickly as 30 days from injury occurrence. If you or a family member have been injured as a result of negligence or wrong doing from a government agency, it is critical that you contact me immediately.
Exceptions Not surprisingly, government entities are considered to be exempt for some injury claims. In addition, in most states the government agency cannot be forced to pay punitive damages, only compensatory damages to the injured party. Punitive damages are typically applied as a deterrent – To prevent the responsible party from committing this behavior or negligence again in the future. The logic is that punitive damages wouldn’t have the same impact on an offending government entity as they would on an individual or a business.
Exemptions can range, but as your injury lawyer I have the expertise and ability to win your claim against an Ohio city other government entity.