Filing a lawsuit against a company in Israel is not always a simple task, especially if you intend to file lawsuits against very large companies (for example, insurance companies or cell phone companies). The reason for this lies in the fact that these companies have batteries of lawyers who help them deal with hundreds or even thousands of lawsuits every year.
There is no doubt that in light of the number of lawsuits filed against companies in Israel, it can be said without difficulty that the companies and their lawyers are very experienced in conducting legal proceedings, and there is a high probability that they have encountered a lawsuit similar to the one you intend to file, so there is also a probability that the companies know how to deal with your claims in court, and what the court is expected to rule.
מסיבה זו, ככל שבכוונתכם להגיש תביעה נגד חברה בסכום העולה על 100 אלף ש"ח, חשוב מאוד לשכור שירותיו של עורך דין המנוסה בהגשת תביעות נגד חברות, על מנת להנות מאותו הניסיון המשפטי שיש לחברות הגדולות בישראל.
Why do you want to file a lawsuit against a company?
Before running to court and filing Claim You need to think and understand why you want to file a lawsuit against a company? What exactly is the damage you have suffered? Is it monetary or net damage? A claim for emotional distressWhat is the amount of the claim that you intend to state in the statement of claim?
לשאלות אלה, ורבות אחרות, משמעות רבה משום שהן משפיעות על זהות בית המשפט הרלוונטי לתביעתכם. לדוגמה: אם סכום הנזק שנגרם לכם לא עולה על 34 אלף ש"ח, כדאי לשקול הגשת תביעה נגד חברה לבית משפט לתביעות קטנות. לבית משפט זה מספר יתרונות בולטים, כגון הליך מהיר יותר עד למועד קבלת פסק הדין, אין צורך לשכור עורך דין (עורכי דין אינם רשאים לייצג בבית משפט לתביעות קטנות, מבלי לקבל היתר, שניתן במקרים חריגים בלבד), ואין הקפדה על הפרוצדורה המשפטית, מכיוון שהשופטים מבינים שרוב המתדיינים אינם משפטנים או עורכי דין.
Small claims court is appropriate in most cases for claims based solely on emotional distress. It is important to understand that emotional distress is not a magic word that immediately leads to receiving financial compensation in the amount of tens or hundreds of thousands of shekels. Generally, the courts are not in a hurry to award significant amounts of compensation when it comes to claims based solely on emotional distress.
On the other hand, if you have suffered actual damage up to 2.5 million shekels, you should consider filing a claim. Financial claim In the secretariat Magistrate's Court (Beyond this amount, the claim must be filed with the district court).
In lawsuits against companies in the Magistrate's Court, you can demand remedies that you cannot demand in small claims court. For example: Order made (For example: a request from a company to perform some action), injunction (For example: a demand to order the company to refrain from performing any action), Temporary seizure.
What evidence do you have to succeed in a lawsuit against a company?
It is not recommended to file lawsuits against companies without preparing for these lawsuits in advance. You cannot file Civil lawsuit (or Class action lawsuit) and thinking that everything will work itself out throughout the process. Such a line of thinking is a sure recipe for failure in the lawsuit.
על מנת להצליח בכל תביעה נגד חברה עליכם לעשות "שיעורי בית" לפני הגשת התביעה. עליכם לבחון איזה מסמכים יש לכם שעשויים לסייע לכם במהלך התביעה, לחשוב על איזה מסמכים תצטרכו לאורך התביעה שכרגע אין לכם (לדוגמה: אם חתמתם על הסכם כלשהו עם החברה ואין לכם את ההסכם – כדאי מאוד להשיג אותו לפני הגשת התביעה), האם יש לכם עדים רלוונטיים למקרה, האם יש לכם התכתבויות כלשהן עם נציגי החברה שעשויים לתמוך בטענות שלכם? כל הנתונים האלה עשויים להיות הכרחיים לצורך הצלחה במסגרת תביעה נגד חברה.
Before filing a lawsuit against a company – have you tried to resolve the dispute with company representatives?
Before filing lawsuits against companies, it is always a good idea to try and talk to representatives of the relevant company and try to resolve the dispute without going to court. In addition to the fact that you will save a lot of money (at least paying court fees, Lawyer's fees and legal expenses are lost), you will also save a lot of time (the higher the amount of the claim, the longer the legal process is expected to last - even relatively simple claims often last over a year).
It is always a good idea to make written requests to company representatives. This is necessary for the purpose of documenting your requests and the response you receive. These correspondences (or recorded conversations – if you record conversations) may be useful to you when pursuing a claim against a company, especially if those correspondences with company representatives contain claims or statements that support that you have suffered damage, and that the company is aware of this.
It is important to know that there are also consumer bodies that you can contact before filing a lawsuit against a company, in order to try to resolve the dispute outside of court. For example: the Israeli Consumer Council, Public Trust, the Consumer Protection Commissioner.
These entities will not always be able to assist you, but if your goal is to save money and avoid filing a lawsuit against a company, it is worth considering contacting them.
Finding a suitable lawyer to file a lawsuit against a company
The identity or area of expertise of the lawyer may be a crucial part of increasing your chances of success in court. It is surely clear to you that not every lawyer is knowledgeable and experienced in filing a lawsuit against every company. Some lawyers are experienced in filing Claim against a foreign or Israeli airlineThere are lawyers who are experienced in filing Lawsuits against car importersThere are lawyers who are experienced in filing Lawsuit against a bank, etc.
בדומה לרופאים שאינם בקיאים בכל תחומי הרפואה, כך גם עורכי דין אינם בקיאים בכל תחומי עולם המשפט. משכך, טרם הגשת תביעה על סכום משמעותי, ובמיוחד כאשר סכום התביעה עולה על 100 אלף ש"ח, כדאי לאתר עורך דין הרלוונטי לחברה או לתחום שבו אתם מתכוונים להגיש את תביעתכם.
The best way to find such a lawyer is through a recommendation from someone you know personally who has used the lawyer's services and won in court. Another option is to locate a relevant lawyer by searching Google by area of expertise or relevant topic.
Today, most lawyers have websites. If you find a lot of information on the lawyer's website about a topic that is relevant to you (for example, many articles on the relevant topic or examples of court decisions), you will have an indication that that lawyer does indeed practice in the field and can assist you.
Another thing you should always check is what the lawyer's past clients have written. Reviews of a law firm can be found on Google, Facebook, and sometimes on the law firm's website.
It is always a good idea to meet with the lawyer in person to get an impression of him and his legal knowledge. It is also important to understand that an experienced lawyer, knowledgeable in his field, and with many successes, will never be a cheap lawyer, and this should be taken into account by you. You can always find a cheaper lawyer for the purpose of filing a lawsuit against a company, but usually cheaper is equal to at least good.
In conclusion
Before filing a lawsuit against a company, it is a good idea to make sure that you have all the documents/data/evidence that can substantiate your claims in court. If you are missing any data, it is a good idea to make an effort to obtain it (to the extent possible) before filing the lawsuit.
You should consider the costs involved in filing a lawsuit against a company (e.g. attorney fees, court fees, Expert opinion, etc.) To try and avoid these costs, you can try and resolve the problem with the company by Warning letter לפני נקיטת הליכים משפטיים או פניות באמצעות דוא"ל (הקפידו תמיד על פניות בכתב).
ככל שמדובר בתביעה בגין נזק משמעותי (נזק שעולה על 100 אלף ש"ח) הקפידו לאתר עורך דין הבקיא בתחום שבו בכוונתכם להגיש תביעה. ההבדל בין עורך דין מנוסה לעורך דין שאינו מנוסה עשוי להיות משמעותי ואף מכריע בתיק שלכם.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding a Lawsuit Against a Company
-
How much does it cost to file a lawsuit against a company?
Claims against different companies sometimes involve different payments, and the costs are not the same.
The main costs consist of attorney fees, Court fee, expert opinion (if necessary), witness fees (if necessary), postal/courier costs (usually negligible amounts). -
How long can a lawsuit against a company last?
The time period varies from case to case. The more complex the lawsuit, the longer it is likely to last. Typically, a lawsuit against a company in the Magistrate's Court will not last less than a year.
-
Which court should I file a lawsuit against a company with?
You should examine, among other things, the amount of the claim, and whether you are interested in hiring the services of a lawyer.
אם סכום התביעה אינו עולה על 34 אלף ש"ח, ניתן לשקול להגיש את התביעה לבית משפט לתביעות קטנות. -
Is every lawsuit against a company accepted in court?
No. A lawsuit against a company is a lawsuit for all intents and purposes, and the plaintiff must prove his claims (who has the burden of proof from his co-worker).
If the plaintiff fails to prove his claims in court, the lawsuit will be dismissed and the plaintiff is expected to be liable for legal costs in favor of the company.
