How to navigate your first business lawsuit

At Baker Dublikar Beck Wiley & Mathews, we understand that your first business lawsuit in Ohio may be terrifying. You may have a lot of questions about what to do and how best to handle the situation to arrive at the most favorable outcome.

Each scenario is different, so there is no universal advice to ensure the best results for you and your business. However, Forbes has a few recommendations for how business owners can handle these situations. Here are a few of them below.

Remain calm

It is important not to panic. This can cause you to act impulsively, which may only worsen the situation. Instead, take a deep breath and read the complaint. Here are a few things you need to pay keen attention to:

• The person suing you
• The reason you are being sued
• Any deadlines you need to observe

Notify your insurance company

If your insurance covers legal disputes, then it may be in your best interest to reach out to them as soon as possible. Failure to do so in a timely manner may lead to a denial of coverage. If you are not sure whether or not lawsuits are covered under your insurance, call them anyway.

Preserve evidence

Even if it is incriminating, deleting evidence may land you in worse trouble. This is often a difficult temptation to resist. However, even if there are no legal repercussions for this action, if discovered, this may reflect poorly on your case.

Whether you are being sued by a business partner, employee or customer, business lawsuits may rack up high costs in time and money for the woefully unprepared. For more information on business litigation, view our webpage.