Most disputes settle. The ones that don't end up in front of a judge or a jury — and the work that determines how each side fares starts long before the trial date. The pleadings, the discovery, the motion practice: that's where civil cases are won.
Matters the firm handles
- Contract disputes — breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment
- Business disputes — partnership and shareholder conflicts, dissolutions, non-compete enforcement
- Real estate — boundary and title disputes, easements, landlord-tenant, quiet title
- Construction — payment disputes, defects, mechanic's liens
- Collections & debt — pursuing and defending collection actions
- Tort claims — fraud, conversion, interference with contract
- Appeals — civil and criminal, Nevada Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
State court, federal court — and the rules that differ
Nevada civil cases fall in Justice Court, District Court, or federal court depending on the amount in controversy, the parties, and the claims. Each forum has its own rules of procedure, its own pace, and its own quirks. The firm practices in all of them and picks the right forum where the law gives a choice.
How a civil case actually unfolds
- Pre-suit assessment. Sometimes a demand letter solves the problem. Often the real value of the case isn't obvious until we see the other side's response.
- Pleadings. Complaint, answer, counterclaims, third-party claims. Getting the theory of the case right at this stage matters for everything that follows.
- Discovery. Document production, interrogatories, depositions. This is where most cases are made or broken.
- Motion practice. Summary judgment, motions in limine, motions to dismiss. Many disputes get resolved here without ever seeing a jury.
- Settlement & mediation. Most cases settle. The question is on what terms — and whether the other side believes you'll go the distance if they don't pay fair value.
- Trial. When trial is the right call, 40+ years of courtroom work shows.
- Appeal. If a result was wrong, we evaluate whether an appellate court should reconsider.
What civil litigation costs
Civil cases vary widely in cost based on complexity, the other side's posture, and how aggressively a matter is litigated. The firm uses hourly retainers for most civil work, hybrid arrangements where appropriate, and contingency on certain plaintiff-side matters. Whatever the structure, we put it in writing before you commit.
Appeals
Appeals are not "round two" of a trial. They're about whether the trial court got the law right on the record that exists. Appellate work demands a different skillset — focused briefing, deep record analysis, oral advocacy on a narrow issue. The firm handles both criminal and civil appeals.