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Oct 18, 2016 · Ignore the letter. The first option, ignoring the letter, is one that every person should avoid. In family law it is especially important to think a few steps ahead. Ignoring the letter forces the opposing party’s lawyer to do one thing – recommend that his or her client proceed to Court.
May 16, 2022 · Whether out of denial or ignorance, disregarding a demand letter will complicate the situation and hurt your defense to those claims later if it ends up in litigation. Learn what they are, how they’re used, and why ignoring a civil demand letter is never a good idea.
Jul 9, 2024 · 1. What should I do if I receive a legal demand letter? Remain calm, review the letter carefully, gather relevant documents, consult with a lawyer, and respond within the specified deadline. 2. Can I ignore a legal demand letter? No, ignoring a legal demand letter can escalate the situation and lead to a lawsuit or other legal actions.
- Demand Letter Information
- Conclusion
- Video Transcript
1. A demand letter shows the other party you’re serious.
Let’s say your business is engaged in a dispute with another company. You’ve made phone calls and sent e-mails. Angry words are exchanged. The other company may think you’re not going to pursue the issue legally. A demand letter makes the possibility of a lawsuit “real” for the other company. Perhaps for the first time, the other party will have to weigh the possible consequences of not complying with the demand.
2. A demand letter is generally seen by the court as a sign of good faith.
The letter shows that the party sending it wants to resolve the issue and isn’t wasting valuable judicial resources. Courts like to see that efforts have been made to settle disputes. Sending a demand letter by certified mail (with return receipt requested) and by regular mail provides proof that you made the effort. In some cases, sending a demand letter is required before going to court.
3. The information in a demand letter may be used against you.
If you do wind up in court, a judge will read the demand letter. Being insulting or threatening can hurt your case. So can demanding an unreasonable amount of money. The wording of a demand letter is important. Certain issues fall under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, or other federal and state laws. You want to ensure any demands made are in compliance with all applicable laws. You also want to ensure the wording of the letter does not result in a waiver of your rights.
As you can see, demand letters can be an efficient option for settling disputes. They can expedite a successful outcome and avoid costly litigation. Even if you do end up filing a lawsuit, a demand letter shows the court that you reasonably tried to work with the other party to settle the problem.
What is a demand letter? And what should you know if you receive a demand letter or you’re thinking about sending one? These are the questions I’ll be addressing today. I’m Aaron Hall, an attorney representing business owners in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can learn more about me at aaronhall.com. And please see the description below for a importan...
As a general rule, if it’s an important matter you should take a demand letter to a lawyer to discuss how, and if, to respond. As a rule of thumb, if a demand letter isn’t worth taking to a lawyer than it’s usually not worth suing over, and your best option could well be to ignore it.
The other party ignores the letter or refuses the terms of the letter. It could be that the other party receives your demand letter but does not respond to your requests or outright refuses to meet your demands. If this happens, consider the options below.
People also ask
What happens if a lawyer ignores a letter?
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What happens if you ignore a civil demand letter?
5-12 months seems on the high end for a four-year employee at mid-level management, but if your lawyer assessed it at that, they might have case law to support it. Most employers will respond to a demand letter but not all. Some will ignore it and force you to sue.