If you've been sued
You Received a Summons. What Now?
A summons means someone has filed a lawsuit against you and the clock has started. Ignoring it is the single worst thing you can do — it leads to a default judgment, which is far harder to undo than it is to defend the case in the first place.
Know your deadline
In New York, you typically have 20 or 30 days to answer a summons and complaint, depending on how you were served. Miss that window and the plaintiff can ask the court for a default judgment, which can be enforced through wage garnishment, bank levies, and liens. Confirm the deadline the day you are served.
Defenses are real
Many lawsuits are weaker than they look. Common defenses include improper service, lack of standing (especially in debt collection cases where the plaintiff cannot prove it owns the debt), statute of limitations, payment, and outright accounting errors. A lawyer can flag these in an hour of review.
Answer or negotiate — but do something
Once a response is on file, the plaintiff has to actually litigate. That alone often produces a much better settlement than what they originally asked for. The worst outcomes happen to defendants who freeze. The best happen to defendants who respond on time with counsel.
Talk to a New York attorney about your matter.
Flat-fee matter review. Straight answers, no runaround.