[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/blog\/things-you-should-never-do-if-you-are-sued\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/blog\/things-you-should-never-do-if-you-are-sued\/","headline":"Things You Should Never Do if You Are Sued","name":"Things You Should Never Do if You Are Sued","description":"Being blindsided by a lawsuit is a stressful experience, and you may be unsure of what to […]","datePublished":"2022-06-13","dateModified":"2022-09-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/author\/smoyer\/#Person","name":"Sara Moyer","url":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/author\/smoyer\/","identifier":63,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sara-Moyer_Square_600x600-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sara-Moyer_Square_600x600-150x150.jpg","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Gross McGinley, LLP","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logopng-00436945-e1531508982151.png","url":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/logopng-00436945-e1531508982151.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Man-Stressed-About-Lawsuit-in-Background-of-Gavel.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Man-Stressed-About-Lawsuit-in-Background-of-Gavel.jpg","height":600,"width":600},"url":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/blog\/things-you-should-never-do-if-you-are-sued\/","about":["Blog"],"wordCount":698,"articleBody":"Being blindsided by a lawsuit is a stressful experience, and you may be unsure of what to do next. Although there are plenty of important things you\u2019ll need to take care of, there are certain actions that you\u2019ll want to avoid if you\u2019re being sued. Our civil litigation attorneys at Gross McGinley, LLP are experienced in defending clients in all types of civil lawsuits. We offer some advice on things you shouldn\u2019t do if you are sued.\u00a0Don\u2019t Ignore a LawsuitAlthough it can be tempting to ignore a complaint or summons, if you fail to respond, the court may award a default judgment against you. This means you\u2019ll be on the hook for what the plaintiff is claiming you owe them. There are strict deadlines for submitting a response, so if you receive a complaint and summons, contact our civil litigation lawyers right away. Although you can appeal a default judgment in Pennsylvania, it\u2019s best to face a lawsuit head-on.Don\u2019t PanicWhether your business is being sued or it\u2019s a personal matter, it\u2019s natural to feel wronged and anxious about losing what you\u2019ve worked so hard to build. You may want to make a call or send a letter or email to the plaintiff to try and make things right. Don\u2019t. Contacting a plaintiff without speaking to a lawyer first can be disastrous. Instead, pause, take a breath, and contact our civil litigation attorneys to evaluate your case.Never Admit You\u2019re At FaultWhether you\u2019re facing an employment lawsuit, personal injury claim, or another type of action, never admit you\u2019re at fault. Even if you believe you may be fully or partially responsible, apologizing or admitting guilt can only harm your case.Don\u2019t Pay AnythingUnfortunately, some people make the mistake of paying a claim upfront because they believe they\u2019ll be reimbursed by their insurance company or another party down the road. Always contact your insurance company and an experienced civil litigation attorney before paying anything on a lawsuit or claim.Don\u2019t Talk To Anyone But Your Attorney About Your CaseAttorney-client privilege protects your rights. However, you can leave yourself vulnerable if you share details about the lawsuit with loved ones, business partners, or anyone else who doesn\u2019t have protected communication privileges, such as a spouse, therapist, or clergy member. Not only could people you speak to be called as witnesses, but if you disclose facts about your case via email, text, instant messaging, social media posts, or voicemail, it gives the plaintiff documentary evidence that could be used against you.Don\u2019t Discard EvidenceHaving sufficient documentation and evidence can make or break a case. Never get rid of any documentation that may be relevant to your lawsuit. If you\u2019re in the mood to purge physical or digital files, wait until your case is resolved. Intentionally destroying, altering, or discarding evidence can be illegal and counterproductive to your case. Our civil litigation attorneys recommend that you give all evidence and documentation to our legal team. We will review it and evaluate it to determine whether it\u2019s relevant and should be shared. Even if something seems insignificant, hand it over anyway. The last thing any attorney wants is to be caught by surprise in the middle of settlement negotiations or a civil trial.DO Contact A Civil Litigation Attorney ImmediatelyOur lawyers at Gross McGinley, LLP have extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in myriad litigation matters. Our client-first philosophy and dedication to professionalism, collaboration, and creative thinking enable our civil law attorneys to provide strategic legal solutions that meet our clients\u2019 specific needs. We use the depth and breadth of our collective experience to achieve results at the settlement table and in the courtroom.Contact A Civil Litigation Attorney In AllentownAt Gross McGinley, LLP, of Allentown, PA, our civil litigation attorneys fight to protect our clients\u2019 rights and interests. If you\u2019re facing a lawsuit, you can trust our team to provide top-notch legal representation and unmatched service. To schedule a consultation, contact us online or call us at 610-820-5450 today."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Things You Should Never Do if You Are Sued","item":"https:\/\/www.grossmcginley.com\/resources\/blog\/things-you-should-never-do-if-you-are-sued\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]