You must file a proper complaint or it will be dismissed. If it is dismissed "with prejudice", that means you can not reopen your case. File correctly the FIRST time!

Always start your DISCOVERY IMMEDIATELY. Contact a court reporter service or depostion service. They will make a legal record of you deposing the defendant you are suing and your witnesses. The cost is minimal (paid by the hour) but the effect is devastating and terrifying to the defendant you are deposing.  Bring a complete questioning plan with you.

 A COMMON TACTIC by attorneys is to remove or transfer the case from your local state court to federal court if it involves a civil rights, Constitutional, federal issues of law or claim for $75,000.00 or more is made. Do NOT WORRY - they are doing you a favor, as the federal court rules are easier to follow and they also recognize the limits of  the pro se. Get your free court rules at:    www.uslawbooks.com/ajs/   Motion the federal court for more time to prepare for the case in  event of removal. Takes about 6 hours to get used to federal practice with the right book.

Discovery means that any and all infomation in any form be made available that will support your case, that is evidence or will lead to evidence. Get a free copy of the rules of evidence. The Federal Rules of evidence at American Justice Studies ^TM has them free and more! See www.uslawbooks.com/ajs/  

A complaint must state:
1. Who was injured (you the plaintiff),
2. Name of person (John Doe) or company that caused the injury (the defendant)
3.When and where it happened to establish the courts jurisdiction to hear the case.
4. The law violated or the nature of the injury.
5. The amount of relief sought monetary or other.
Get the Emanuel book on TORTS. Understand that Torts are the law on recoverable injuries-not just bodily but all injuries, suffering and losses. Then a book on civil procedure and evidence.

 A case filed with "no merit" or filed "with malice" or containing element of fraud or "bad faith" will be dismissed and the plaintiff filing such can be sued for legal fees and fined by the court.

 You will have to organize your filing and especially your briefs with reference markers using an index. Index tabs and seperatotrs are sold for this purpose but typically cost 6 to 8 dollars for a set of 30 tabbed separators. A typical appeal of 6-8 sets of every brief of 2 or3 or more can add up to 24 sets of tabs costing 24 x 6-8.00=  $$$  Make them nearly for free.   When you are done the appeals package should look like this.  APPEALS PACKAGE

1. Buy a SCANNER - Scan every document, evidence, everything you create and especially the filings and save them as one file with signature so you can instantly print out multiple copies as needed.
2. Buy a DUPLEXER for your printer so you can print on both sides of the paper automatically.
3. Name each file by date and procedure name.
4. Scan and make copies of everything that is sent  to or served upon you.
5. When making copies you can print out 2 pages on one side (booklet setting) you you can use less paper - you can actually put 2 pages on each single sheet and have 4 pages on one sheet!!
6. Keep backups.
7. Stay organized. Keep a calender.
8. The organizing folders lawyers use are called "WALLETS" - get them at Staples, OfficeMax or from a law office supply store on the web. They also have litigation forms and kits.
9. Be careful of the court set deadlines - they trick you with "thereof", "hereof" and "herefrom" etc.
10. Learn to count days - Weekends and holidays are counted.
11. You can motion for an extension if you have a good reason but do not wait until the last day - give at least a week's notice.

         FINALLY - YOU CAN EASILY MASTER THE LAW- BELIEVE IT!

FOR A REAL JUMP START IN LAW STUDIES ORDER THE PRO SE POWER LEGAL CD COLLECTION SUPRA!