What To Do When You've Been Sued

When a large corporation is sued, they usually can just call on their team of attorneys. For small business, however, it's not so easy. Since most small-business owners can't keep a staff of legal experts on hand, the NFIB Legal Foundation is here to help. Today's Tools & Tips article on NFIB.com offers advice on what to do after you've been served with a lawsuit, such as:

• Do not ignore the lawsuit. The most important point is to never ignore the claim, no matter who makes it or where it comes from; always be ready to act immediately.


• Contact an attorney. Despite any fears toward lawyers, do not hesitate to get legal advice. Call your attorney, or if you don't have one, find one quickly. Typically, an attorney will have around 30 days to respond to all the claims, leaving precious little time for delay.


• Organize information. Gather all documents together in a logical order that the attorney can easily access. Don't destroy any documents, including e-mails or other electronic records, related to the case.