Appealing the Decision in Your Civil Trial
Nevada Attorneys Handling Civil Appeals
The decision of a judge or jury in a civil case does not necessarily need to be the final word. If you lost your case and wish to challenge the court's ruling in a civil matter, you may be able to file an appeal with a higher court.
Civil appeals are time-sensitive. If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to appeal. Talk to an attorney immediately to have your case reviewed.
The appellate lawyers at the Las Vegas law office of Ciciliano & Associates, LLC thoroughly examine the court transcripts for legal errors by the judge or misconduct by the opposing party (e.g., withholding evidence) that would constitute grounds for appeal. Appellate attorney Luke Ciciliano is experienced at representing individuals and businesses in civil litigation and civil appeals in both Nevada and federal courts throughout southern Nevada.
To discuss the possibility of appealing a civil judgment, contact our office online or call 702.487.3530.
About Civil Appeals
The court that will hear your appeal depends on which trial court handled your initial case. If you were appealing a breach of contract or family court case, for example, you would pursue an appeal through the Nevada appellate system since these cases are handled by state courts.
If you wished to appeal a case handled under federal law, a particularly large interstate case, or a bankruptcy decision, you would pursue it through the federal appellate courts.
The first step is for your attorney to determine if you have grounds for appeal. If there are and the judgment is final, the next step is to file a notice of appeal with appropriate court: a Nevada district court, the Nevada Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, or another court in specific situations.
When You Can Appeal a Civil Case
It is possible to appeal any final judgment in civil court — that is to say; you can appeal when no further action is possible by the trial court on the issue. There are certain circumstances where other types of appeals are allowed, but they are rare. Examples of final judgments you can appeal include:
- The dismissal of your lawsuit before it went to trial
- Injunctions granted or denied
- The final verdict or the amount of damages awarded
Civil appeals can take a very long time — if more than one level of appeal is sought, the process can take years. In very urgent cases, such as certain family law appeals, an expedited process may be available.
Grounds for Civil Appeals
A civil appeal is not a re-trial of your case. No new evidence can be introduced. Instead, the appellate court will consider whether the trial judge made legal errors that are likely to have changed the outcome of the case. The appellate court can also consider whether the facts found by the judge or jury were clearly wrong.
Make an appointment with one of our appellate attorneys for a review of your case. We will be happy to evaluate your trial record and determine whether there are grounds for appeal.
We Worry About the Law So You Don't Have To!
For aggressive representation, contact our Las Vegas law office immediately. Call 702.487.3530. We will explain our fees and the costs of an appeal versus the potential gain and likely outcome. Our office is conveniently located on 10th Street near the federal courthouse in Las Vegas.
