Each lawsuit is unique and has a life of its own. Good lawyers, therefore, must be strategic, creative, and able to customize their approach to fit the needs of the case. That said, most lawsuits consist of the following steps: Lawyer hired; defendant(s) researched; initial evidence gathered and preserved; facts evaluated; law analyzed. Settlement demand letter sent to the defendant. If the settlement demand is rejected, plaintiff’s complaint is drafted, filed, and served on defendant, thereby formally starting the lawsuit. Defendant answers the complaint, and the lawsuit is fully engaged. Defendant files motion to dismiss the case to make the case go away early. If the judge denies the motion to dismiss, discovery is conducted by the parties to finish gathering the evidence; discovery may consist of interrogatories (sworn written questions), requests for production of relevant documents, requests for admissions, and depositions of the parties, third-party witnesses, and experts. Defendant files motion for summary judgment in a second attempt to make the case go away. If the summary judgment motion is denied, most judges will require the parties to mediate the case before setting a trial date. If the mediation is not successful, the case is tried (usually to a jury). Post-trial motions and appeal depending on the outcome of the trial.     Unfortunately, it takes time to complete these steps. Litigation is not a quick process. Class actions add even more complexity. Depending on the court and the number of its pending cases, most cases take at least two years to get to trial—and generally longer. Of course, the parties, on their own, may voluntarily mediate or settle at any point on the case timeline.