Usually, an Ohio business in a legal dispute will be able to appeal a court decision with which they do not agree.
An appeal can be a critical part of a business’s overall legal strategy. An unfavorable decision after a trial or hearing can cost a business dearly if they have to pay a judgment or follow a court’s orders.
In some cases, the outcome of one case can mean that a Toledo-area business can no longer operate at a profit and will have to close. It may be a matter of survival for the business to continue to fight a court’s unfavorable decision.
However, it is important for a businesses to understand how appeals work in Ohio and what they can and cannot accomplish. Although federal cases have their own appeal courts and rules and procedures, many of the same concepts apply.
Whether an appeal is a good option will depend on the facts of the case
Whether a business should appeal a court’s decision will depend a lot on its unique situation.
However, it is important for a business to understand that appeals are not a do-over of a trial. For example, Ohio’s appellate courts will not second guess what a judge or jury decided to believe or not believe about certain witnesses or documents.
Instead, the Court of Appeals will decide if the court made a legal error when applying the law, admitting or rejecting evidence or making other decisions.
If the Court does decide that the court made a mistake that requires correction, it may change the outcome of the case itself or ask the court to hold further hearings, have another trial or take other steps.
If a business decides to appeal, they will need to make sure that they follow all of the legal requirements for doing so. Some of these requirements involve strict deadlines that, if missed, can affect a business’s legal rights.
Because of these legal requirements and because of the high stakes involved, many businesses choose to consult with experienced appellate attorneys before going forward.
