Downriver Legal Cafe`

Court Appearances

This week has started off well!  Last week, I found myself in a new court and this week has seen quite a bit of activity in my old courts.  I wanted to pass on a bit of nonlegal guidance for those of you who might have a hearing or court appointment in your future.

How you look and dress can affect the outcome of your case.  When in court, dress for success.  By that I mean, put on your best clothes and make sure they fit well.  If you do not own a suit, tie, and dress shoes or if the ones you do own fit poorly, you might want to consider buying those items before your court date.  It will make you look more respectable and trustworthy, and it could help you win your case.  Here are some other tips for you to consider.  http://www.ehow.com/how_8979_dress-court-appearance.html

After you’re dressed and ready to go, look in the mirror and ask yourself out loud, “Would I trust me?”  Judges are strangers.  They are not your friend.  They have an obligation to be fair and impartial, but they have normal biases just like everyone else.  Often times, people go to court looking at their argument, their appearance, etc. in the best possible light; they give themselves the benefit of the doubt.   Judges, however, may not give you any benefit of the doubt. 

Along the same lines as dressing appropriately, is showing up.  When you have hearing or other appointment with the court, show up!  Showing up is half the battle.  You cannot win if you are not present.  In fact, you might lose.  The Michigan Court rules authorize a court to dismiss a case or grant a default if a party fails to show. MCR 2.603 and MCR 2.504(B).  Not to mention, if you fail to show, the judge or magistrate cannot hear your side of the story.  Even if you think you’re going to lose, or that the deck is stacked against you, show up.  When you show up, you automatically give the impression that there is another side of the story; an additional set of facts that a judge should consider. 

Your presence ensures that the other side must work for it if they plan to win.   Some parties have very little evidence, but they will never tell other side that.  They’ll make it seem like they have all the evidence they need to win, and that they’re evidence is completely reliable.  You can’t take their word for it.  They’ll make it seem that way just to keep you from coming to court.  If you don’t show, they win!  So, show up and make them work for it!

About

Attorney Matt Vititoe founded American Legal Group, PLLC to show that the practice of law is about serving the needs of the people.  He founded American Legal Group, PLLC to show that personal attention, integrity, and diligence will help him meet the needs of his clients when they need it most.

Mr. Vititoe graduated from Wayne State Law School.  He works as a trial attorney, mediator, and dispute resolution trainer.  He is a veteran of Desert Storm and lives with his family in Monroe County.

To read more go to: http://americanlegalgroup.net/about_us

Hello world!

Hello!  You’ve reached the Downriver Legal Cafe`, the place Downriver residents and businesses come to keep up to date on the law and mediation.  The Downriver Legal Cafe` is a blog designed and published by American Legal Group, PLLC and the Law Offices of Matt Vititoe.

I’m an attorney and mediator in the Downriver and Monroe areas.  I work primarily in the family law and criminal defense areas, but my practice is a general practice meaning that I try to help people no matter what their dispute or problem is.  If I don’t know the answer and I can’t find it, I make sure to send people to someone who knows.

Let’s face it, the law can be pretty technical and hard to understand.  People contact me frustrated and unsure of what to do because they don’t understand the law.  Or, worse yet, they’ve been given bad advice from well-meaning friends and relatives.  I want to help make things clear for you, so you can protect what’s important to you.

In addition to the law, I’m going to write about conflict management techniques and mediation; these are alternatives to the court.  They can help you take care of disputes or disagreements before they get worse or end up in court.  These techniques can help you save time and money; and they can also help you salvage relationships.

I want you to have the right expectation about my blog.  I’m not going to give legal advice.  Legal advice is something an attorney gives after he or she has listened to a complete set of facts and researched the relevant areas of law.  I will write about updates in the law that affect families and business in our communities and give my impressions of them.  I urge anyone reading my blog to seek legal counsel before acting upon something I’ve written.

Stay tuned for more!

Yours truly,

Matt Vititoe