Deciding Who to Sue

Knowing whom to sue may not be as easy as you think at first. It is essential that you sue the right person or legal entity. You can lose your case if you sue the wrong person.  According to some District Courts judges, suing the wrong person at a business is a common mistake for self-represented persons. Here are some guidelines on getting it right.

Tips on suing an individual person – more than one person, – a business

First, look at any receipt or agreement that you have with the other side. This is the place to start deciding who you should sue.

• Naming an individual person – Make sure that you use the person’s full legal name. If you do not know what an initial stands for, see if you can find out. There is an amazing amount to information on the Internet plus other people in your community may know his/her full name. Sometimes the phone book may have the information. It is better to list the complete name to avoid an confusion. Make sure you rely on good information.
  
  Sometimes people have more than one name that they use. You should list these other names also. For example, Sara Jane Whitcomb a/k/a S.J. Whitcomb (a/k/a = Also Known As)

Tip on traffic accidents - Sue the driver who caused your injury or property damage not the insurance company. District Court staff report that this is a common mistake.

• Naming more than one person (including a married couple)– Again you should use the person’s full name (see above). List everyone that might be responsible for the harm you suffered. If you are not able to collect against one, you may be able to collect against the other. You would not want to file another lawsuit on the same incident. Remember that you must also serve each defendant with the court papers.
  
  If you are suing a married couple, name both people and note “husband and wife” after their names. Try to avoid naming the wife as Mrs. George Norton since this defines the person by relationship. If George Norton divorced his wife and remarried, you would have the wrong person!
   
• Suing a business – There are three basic ways that a person can operate a business – a sole proprietorship, as a partnership or as a corporation. The choice will control how the business is taxed. It will also determine who is liable (responsible) for the debts and bad acts of the business.
  
  In some cases, the business entity is considered a new legal “person”. You must sue the right person, whether it is a human person or an artificial legal “person”. See the chart below for guidance. You can use state and local information to research how the business is organized.

If you are unsure, consult a private attorney. Bring all of the research you have done. It will save the attorney time and save you money. Many attorneys will assist you without representing you in the entire case. This arrangement will give you expertise when you need it. You may still choose to handle the rest of the case by yourself.