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litagation
Protecting Your Rights — In and Out of the Courtroom
Whether you’re filing a lawsuit or defending against one, legal disputes can quickly disrupt your life and business. At Oak & Stone Law, we represent both plaintiffs and defendants with one goal: achieving the best possible outcome through smart, strategic advocacy.
Why Oak & Stone Law?
Attorney Dillon Turner understands that litigation isn’t just about winning — it’s about minimizing risk, cost, and stress. With a background in construction and business, he brings real-world strategy to every case, helping clients make informed decisions at every stage.
HOW WE HELP?
• Civil and commercial litigation
• Pre-litigation strategy and negotiation
• Contract and business disputes
• Property and construction-related claims
• Representation in state and federal courts
Civil Litigation QUESTIONS
What are the stages of a lawsuit?
Pre-attorney: Usually a conflict arises before an attorney gets involved. When the conflict reaches a point that one or more of the parties think they
cannot solve the conflict without attorneys, that’s when we get the call. If you receive communication from an attorney, DO NOT REPLY to them. You should contact an attorney immediately.
Pre-litigation: This is the stage where attorneys usually “snipe” at each other through strongly worded letters. Case viability is usually tested during this period, and by counsel on both sides. If you are looking to avoid litigation, this stage is very important: having an attorney before a lawsuit is filed can usually save you money in the long run. If my clients are the plaintiffs, this is usually when we begin our deep assessment of the evidence of the case currently in possession of the clients.
Preparation for Litigation: If you are the plaintiff and my client, you have decided that litigation is the most strategic option for the outcome of your case, we will begin preparing for litigation. If you think you may be a defendant in a case that has yet to be filed, this extra time could be very
beneficial to your defense as well.
Filing, Service, and Answer: Once a lawsuit is filed, it must be delivered under strict process of services requirements set forth in OK statute. Once
the defendant(s) are properly served with a petition and a court summons, the lawsuit begins. Defendants have 20 days to file an answer or they will
lose in what is called a default judgment. Defendants want to avoid default judgments whenever possible.
The Great Middle: Once the lawsuit and the answer have been filed, then the lawsuit is underway. I call this the “great middle” because it is usually a great deal of time that passes, sometimes more than a year, where the parties schedule the rest of the stages of the lawsuit, and engage in motion practice, and generally prepare for trial. Much of the evidentiary record is revealed during the discovery process at this time. And while this is all happening, the Court usually encourages parties to engage in settlement discusses. 90-95% of lawsuits filed are settled prior to verdict.
Trial: if your dispute has not been resolved by this point and juncture, then trial will begin. Depending on your case, you may or may not have a jury. If no settlement is reached, then a verdict will be issued.
Appeals and Judgment Recovery: Once the case has been settled or a verdict has been reached, then the time period associated with judgment recovery begins, which can be a journey all its own.
How long does civil litigation usually take?
I would count on your case taking at least a year. Some of this is actually structural on the part of the legal system, as it tends to encourage early settlement for many matters.
What are the risks of taking a case to trial?
It will depend on the specific case, but, overall, the biggest risk for every litigant is cost to litigate. Lawsuits are expensive, and there is economic strategy in their approach, which Oak & Stone Law will keep you abreast of at every point and juncture of your case, including in the pre-litigation stage. Sometimes you may only need to threaten litigation to encourage a party to comply. Since this is best determined on a case-by-case basis, Oak & Stone Law will have a more concise answer about what your specific risks are in your given case, because there are too many possibilities to account for in an FAQ.
When is it better to settle out of court?
Many times. It is especially beneficial to settle outside of court when a settlement agreement will offer options for resolving a given dispute that a Court cannot or will not offer.
Do I have to appear in court if I hire you?
It will depend. Sometimes court appearances are required, but generally speaking for civil litigation court appearances are not necessary.
Can I recover attorney’s fees if I win?
It is possible, but not guaranteed. We will always ask for reasonable attorney’s fees. I much prefer my client’s adversaries paying me than my client’s themselves. If attorney’s fees are awarded, it will usually be at the end of a case, and Oak & Stone Law will reimburse their clients for attorney’s fees that have paid when such a judgment or settlement is reached.
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