What are my options if I lose my business trial?  

Texas businesses sometimes have to sue or defend themselves in court in order to accomplish their business goals.

There is always some risk to going to court. No matter how strong a business thinks its case is, it is very hard to predict what a judge or jury will decide with certainty.

An unsuccessful result at a trial can mean that a business is looking at some significant financial damage.

In the worst case scenario, a bad outcome can endanger the profitability of the business. The business may be forced to evaluate their legal avenues further.

One option a business might consider is appealing the judge’s decision.

An appeal may breathe new life into legal goals

Appeals are not do-overs of a trial. The business wanting to appeal will have to convince the reviewing court, called an appellate court, that the trial court mis-applied the law in a significant way.

If the appellate court agrees that the trial court made a mistake, it will usually do one of two things. It will simply correct the decision, or it will tell the trial court that it must re-do a trial or hearing.

Either way, a successful appeal can salvage a business’s critical legal objectives.

Appellate litigation is complicated. There are many rules, including strict deadlines, which anyone wanting to pursue an appeal in the Texas courts, or federal court for that matter, must understand and follow.

Not following these rules can cause a business to lose important legal rights.

Furthermore, there is always the question about whether a business should appeal at all. Sometimes, there are other, better options after a disappointing result in a case. An attorney with experience in appellate litigation can help a business understand its best option.