Jurisdiction and Docket
One of the most significant factors affecting the length of a wrongful death case is the jurisdiction in which the suit is filed. In some courts, it can take many years to even get a first trial setting, which is something an attorney may consider when considering where to file the lawsuit.
In some larger counties, such as Collin, Denton, or Dallas, there are multiple judges who could review the case, although some are faster or slower than others. In other situations, a plaintiff may have an option to file the case in a small East Texas or West Texas community in which there is only one judge.
The lawyer may also want to learn about the judge’s docket. Previous cases will indicate how serious that judge is about setting trials and about keeping those trial dates to help people push toward settlement. Each of these factors will likely be discussed with the client so the client will have an idea about why the decisions that are being made are being made.