How to Respond to an Intent-to-Sue Letter

Type your response to an intent-to-sue letter.
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An intent-to-sue letter is a disturbing piece of correspondence to receive. You should follow several general guidelines in response, whether the letter is from a credit card company threatening to sue you for unpaid bills or from a client, former employee or other third party,

Hire a lawyer. In most cases a lawyer will help you deal with an intent-to-sue letter in the most professional and efficient manner possible. If you want a lawsuit to go away, hiring a lawyer is your first step. If you cannot afford a lawyer, approach an organization such as Legal Aid, which provides assistance to low-income families.

Respond in a timely manner. In most states, there is a limitation on how long you can take to reply to an intent-to-sue letter. Work with your lawyer to understand how long you have and to construct your response.

Agree or disagree with the charges. If you disagree with the charges brought against you, you have the right to fight them with your lawyer. However, if you agree with the charges, or simply wish to settle the matter immediately, you might settle with the other party through your lawyers, offering them a percentage or the full amount of the money they requested.

Counter sue, settle or file a motion to dismiss. If the other party does not have enough evidence to successfully sue you or has failed on procedural grounds to follow the correct form, you and your lawyer can file a motion to dismiss. If granted, this will dismiss the charges against you. Similarly, you might counter sue the party for damages, or settle outside of court.

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