950 West Elliot Road, Suite 226 Tempe, Arizona 85284

Follow us:
 
480 839 9500

Civil Trial Work & Appeals

Civil Trial Works and Appeals

Are you facing a serious civil lawsuit in Tempe, Arizona, and it has you feeling overwhelmed? To help ease your concerns, you need an experienced civil trial attorney who can present a strong case and use their resources to facilitate a positive outcome.

The Sorenson Law Firm has over 40 years of experience representing clients in all types of civil cases. We have unique skills that ensure we maintain open communication with our clients, gather extensive evidence, and defend cases efficiently.

We understand that civil litigation can be time-consuming and involving. That is why we remove the case’s burden from our clients and do all the work, including:

  • Evidence gathering
  • Interviewing for witnesses
  • Compiling documents
  • Filing papers with the courts
  • Keeping track of the court dates

Contact us today and let our civil trial lawyers and appellate attorneys review your case and advise on the best legal action.

Types of Courts in Arizona

Once you start a litigation process in Tempe, Arizona, you are assigned a court depending on the case category and whether it is a trial case or an appeal. The following are the three types of courts in Arizona:

Limited Jurisdiction Courts

Limited jurisdiction courts consist of justice and municipal courts. Municipal courts are also called magistrate or city courts and oversee petty offenses and misdemeanor crimes. Justice courts hear criminal and civil cases such as real estate disputes, claims, domestic violence, and search warrants.

General Jurisdiction Courts

The Superior Court of Arizona falls under the general jurisdiction courts. The Superior Court hears a wide range of cases. Each Arizona county has at least one Superior Court facility, and the court is referred to by its county name. For example, the people of Tempe are served by the Superior Court of Maricopa county.

Appellate Jurisdiction Courts

The appellate jurisdiction courts are the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. These courts review trials appealed to them. The Court of Appeals hears most cases from the Superior Court, while the Supreme Court hears death penalty appeals, disputes within counties, and cases involving elected leaders.

Sorenson attorneys have prosecuted and defended bench and jury trials in Superior Court, Federal District Court, and the Arizona Court of Appeals. In addition, we have also handled non-trial court cases in Coconino, Navajo, Yavapai, and Mohave County Superior Courts. You are assured of receiving outstanding legal representation from our civil and appellate attorneys.

Difference Between a Civil Trial and an Appeal

A civil trial and an appeal undergo different court processes, but the same law applies in both situations. An appeal usually comes after a jury or judge has decided a case in a trial court. During a civil trial, the plaintiff and defendant present their cases to a jury, judge, or a panel of judges. Both parties present their evidence, including:

  • Relevant documents
  • Witness testimony
  • Photographs and videos
  • Diaries
  • Enactment

At the end of the presentation, the jury or judge reviews the evidence and presents a verdict. The court adds the verdict to its record, but the losing party can still appeal.

An appeal does not follow the same process as a civil trial. In this situation, three judges review the original case and decide if the judgment followed the law. The court cannot make an appeal verdict based on new evidence. The judges depend on the written briefs and occasionally require a 15 minutes oral testimony or presentation.

Civil Appeals Process

Sometimes court cases end, and one party feels that the decision was unfair. The court system addresses this concern by allowing a case to be reviewed by a higher court. An appeal allows a federal court or the Courts of Appeals to review a decision made in the lower courts to confirm if there were legal errors during the original trial. The process of appealing are:

  • The appellant files an appeal with the higher court. They do this by writing a brief expressing the legal errors they believe were made.
  • The appellee submits a brief to persuade the judges that the decision made in the original trial should stand
  • The judges review the case and may request a brief oral presentation or testimony from both sides.
  • The judges make a final decision based on what they found after reviewing the evidence presented in the original trial.

The Sorenson Law Firm’s experienced appellate attorneys are licensed to practice in the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. They have also successfully argued several cases in the Arizona Court of Appeals. We have handled complex civil trial and appeal cases and acquired the expertise to file and argue your case efficiently. Speak to us today, and let us help you prevail in your case.

March 24, 2023Arizona Car Seat Laws 2023

May 29, 2024How to Identify Faulty Bath Grab Bars: Guide to Preventing Bathroom Accidents

Civil Trial Attorney

Cities, Towns and Neighborhoods in our community that we have the pleasure to serve.

  • Phoenix
  • Mesa
  • Chandler
  • Scottsdale
  • Glendale
  • Tempe
  • Gilbert
  • Peoria
  • Surprise
  • Avondale
  • McCormick Ranch
  • North Scottsdale
  • Desert Ridge
  • Paradise Valley Village
  • Arrowhead Ranch
  • Goodyear
  • Buckeye
  • Apache Junction
  • El Mirage
  • Fountain Hills
  • Queen Creek
  • Sun City
  • Litchfield Park
  • Paradise Valley
  • Tolleson
  • Verrado
  • Ocotillo
  • Dobson Ranch
  • Power Ranch
  • Estrella Mountain Ranch
  • Downtown Phoenix
  • Central Phoenix
  • North Phoenix
  • Arcadia
  • Biltmore
  • Ahwatukee
  • Sunnyslope
  • Encanto
  • Roosevelt Row
  • Scottsdale Old Town