COVID-19 Update on Civil Litigation In The Columbus, Ohio Area

With the COVID-19 numbers far surpassing what they once were during the March through June court shutdowns, you may be wondering what the courts in Columbus and greater Central Ohio are doing now.  The good news is that by now all the courts across Central Ohio have developed COVID-19 protections and protocols.  In Columbus, Ohio, the Franklin County courts are operating relatively smoothly but with social distancing measures in place.  The Franklin County Municipal Court has some different rules in place than the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and generally every single court in Central Ohio has unique rules specifically tailored to that Court's needs.  What does all of this mean?  The law hasn't stopped and the courts haven't stopped, but they are operating much differently now than before COVID-19.

It is more important and more helpful now than ever before to have an experienced civil litigator handle the prosecution or defense of your civil case.  The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has been e-filing for years, but now e-filing may be the only option for the near term while COVID-19 is still a pandemic.  This is no big deal for local civil attorneys, but it makes it very difficult for people trying to do things without a lawyer.  In the Franklin County Municipal Court, no in-person court filings are allowed for the time being.  Again, this is a non-issue for an experienced local attorney, but a game changer for the do-it-yourselfer.

Lawsuits Are Still Being Filed and Still Have To Be Defended

The COVID-19 pandemic initially saw a brief pause in new lawsuits being filed in Columbus from around March through May.  After that, things picked up, or even intensified compared to prior years.  Legal problems did not just go away with the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic has certainly changed how those claims are being litigated.  

In many cases, the economic fallout from COVID-19 caused many people to seek money damages on claims that they may have otherwise sat on for a while.  This means that there are a lot of lawsuits to defend against and a lot of lawsuit where the stakes are high in getting a money judgment against wrongdoers and tortfeasors.  The social distancing philosophy of fighting COVID-19 does not work well in fighting legal claims.  You need a good lawyer to fight your legal battles for you.  The law firm of Harris & Engler has experienced, battle hardened, civil litigation attorneys ready to help you win your case.  If you believe the time has come to get a lawyer, then it is time to get the right lawyer.  You can call an attorney at Harris & Engler by calling (614) 610-9988.  Leave a message with a description of your legal issue and an attorney will call you back as soon as they are available.