St. Johns Law GroupCivil Litigation
Litigation
St. Augustine’s Largest Full-Service Law Firm
St. Augustine Civil Litigation & Lawsuit Attorneys
Trial lawyers for business, contract, property, construction and complex civil disputes. St. Johns Law Group represents plaintiffs and defendants from the earliest dispute analysis through discovery, motions, mediation, trial and appeal.
Plaintiff & Defense Representation
Jury & Nonjury Trials
Mediation & Appeals
St. Johns Law Group
St. Augustine Area’s Largest Law Firm
15 Attorneys
Full-Service Legal Team
300+ Years
Combined Legal Experience
100+ Jury Trials
Trial Experience Across the Team
1,000s of Closings
Real Estate Transactions
Civil Litigation Services
How Can Our Civil Litigation Attorneys Help?
Go directly to the SJLG practice or resource most closely related to your dispute.
Commercial Litigation
Commercial contracts, business relationships, damages and complex disputes.
Explore Commercial Litigation →Business Litigation
Business-owner conflicts, contractual claims and company disputes.
Explore Business Litigation →Real Estate Litigation
Property, title, easement, contract, deposit and ownership disputes.
Explore Property Litigation →Construction Litigation
Defects, contracts, payment disputes, liens and project claims.
Explore Construction Law →HOA & Condo Litigation
Association, covenant, governance, property and enforcement disputes.
Explore HOA Law →Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Ownership, fiduciary-duty, control and closely held business conflicts.
Explore Ownership Disputes →Anti-SLAPP & Injunctive Matters
Claims involving protected speech, urgent relief and contested legal rights.
Explore Anti-SLAPP →Appeals & Post-Trial
Preserving issues, appellate briefs, oral argument and defending judgments.
Explore Appeals →Explore Our Litigation Practice
Civil Litigation Legal Services & Resources
Litigation often overlaps with business, real estate, construction, association, insurance and appellate law.Business & Contract Disputes
Commercial Litigation Business Litigation Partnership & Shareholder Disputes Medical Practice Disputes Florida Anti-SLAPP ClaimsProperty & Construction
Real Estate Litigation Deposit Disputes Easement Litigation Quiet Title Partition Actions Construction Law & DefectsAssociations & Other Claims
HOA & Condo Association Law Property Damage Hidden Defects Landlord-Tenant Probate & Will Contests Trust & Fiduciary Disputes
The Litigation Process
From Dispute to Resolution
The path differs by case, but sophisticated litigation usually requires deliberate decisions at each stage.Case Assessment
Analyze facts, contracts, claims, defenses, evidence, damages, deadlines and practical objectives.Pre-Suit Strategy
Preserve evidence, investigate, send or respond to demands, and evaluate early resolution.Pleadings
File or defend the complaint, address jurisdiction, affirmative defenses and threshold motions.Discovery
Documents, interrogatories, admissions, subpoenas, depositions and expert testimony.Motions
Legal briefing may narrow issues, resolve claims, compel discovery or shape trial.Mediation
Evaluate settlement with a clear understanding of evidence, risk, expense and potential outcomes.Trial
Prepare witnesses, exhibits, demonstratives, jury issues and a coherent theory of the case.Post-Trial & Appeal
Address judgments, fee issues, post-trial motions, preservation and appellate review where appropriate.Business & Commercial Litigation
When a Business Dispute Threatens Operations, Ownership or Value
Business litigation often involves more than a single contract. The dispute may implicate ownership rights, fiduciary duties, financing, real estate, company records, damages, injunctions or the future of the enterprise.Breach of Contract
Partnership & Shareholder Claims
Fiduciary Duties
Business Torts
Declaratory Relief
Injunctions
Real Estate & Property Litigation
Property Disputes Require Both Litigation Skill and Real Estate Knowledge
SJLG’s litigation practice works alongside attorneys experienced in transactions, title, development and land use. That integrated approach is valuable when a lawsuit turns on a deed, survey, easement, contract, title issue, disclosure, association document or development approval.Construction & Development Disputes
Construction Cases Combine Contracts, Technical Evidence and Property Law
Construction disputes may involve owners, contractors, subcontractors, developers, associations, design professionals and insurers. Effective litigation strategy should account for the project documents, statutory notice requirements, expert issues, damages and the underlying property.
Prepared to Try the Case.
Courtroom Preparation
Litigation Strategy Built for the Possibility of Trial
Cases often settle, but meaningful settlement leverage can depend on disciplined preparation. Across the litigation team, SJLG brings 100+ jury trials of combined experience and experience across hundreds of trials and legal proceedings. Our trial work includes witness preparation, depositions, evidentiary issues, demonstratives, motions, jury selection and presentation of a coherent case theory.
Recent Trial Experience
3 Jury Trials. 3 Months. 3 Wins.
In a three-month period in 2026, St. Johns Law Group’s trial team completed three separate jury trials and obtained favorable jury-trial results for its clients in all three matters. The milestone reflects the preparation, teamwork and courtroom experience required to take a civil case from pleadings and discovery through jury selection, presentation of evidence and verdict.
SJLG’s litigation attorneys represent plaintiffs and defendants in business, contract, real estate, construction, association and other complex civil disputes. Although many cases resolve before trial, our litigation strategy is built around being prepared to try the case when necessary.
Trial Preparation
Preparation
Trial work begins long before the jury is seated—with pleadings, investigation, written discovery, depositions, motions, exhibits, witness preparation and a clear theory of the case.
Integrated Counsel
Team Approach
Complex disputes can benefit from lawyers who understand the underlying business, property, construction, association or regulatory issue in addition to courtroom procedure.
Strategy
Resolution Strategy
Trial readiness and settlement strategy are not opposites. Careful preparation can improve the evaluation of risk, strengthen negotiating positions and prepare the case for trial if resolution is not possible.
Prior results are provided for informational purposes only. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future matter.
Resolution & Review
Litigation, Mediation & Appeals
A civil dispute does not always end with a trial verdict. SJLG provides integrated access to mediation and appellate resources.
St. Augustine Mediation Center
Explore attorney-led mediation resources and SJLG’s mediation facilities for civil, business, property and other disputes.
Explore Mediation →Appeals & Appellate Advocacy
Appellate work requires issue preservation, procedural precision, legal writing and focused oral advocacy.
Explore Appeals →
Integrated Legal Team
Civil Disputes Rarely Exist in Isolation
A lawsuit may depend on the underlying transaction, property, project, company, association or government decision.
Real Estate
Transactions, title, ownership, property rights and closings.
Real Estate →Construction
Contracts, defects, liens, licensing and project disputes.
Construction →Business
Commercial relationships, ownership, contracts and fiduciary issues.
Business →HOA & Condo
Governance, covenants, common property and association disputes.
Association Law →
Meet the Litigation Team
Civil Litigation & Trial Attorneys
SJLG assigns matters based on the dispute, subject matter, procedural posture and needs of the client. The litigation team brings experience across business, property, construction, association, insurance, appellate and other civil disputes.
Douglas N. Burnett
Complex Civil Litigation • Real Estate • Land Development • Trial Team View Profile →
Alex Nunchuck
Civil Litigation • Contract Disputes • Insurance Disputes • Appeals View Profile →
Shaun C. Saliba
Construction Litigation • Commercial Disputes • Property Litigation View Profile →
Joshua R. Saxon
Civil Litigation • Business Disputes • Personal Injury • Trial Practice View Profile →
Eric D. Whitcher
Civil Litigation • Business & Property Law • Asset Protection View Profile →
Hillary N. Mesa
HOA & Condo Litigation • Real Estate Disputes • Civil Litigation View Profile →
Megan Burnett Drysdale
Real Estate • Contracts • Leasing • Litigation View Profile →
Civil Litigation FAQs
Florida Civil Lawsuit Questions
General information only. The procedural and substantive issues in a lawsuit depend on the particular claims, parties and court.What is civil litigation?
Civil litigation is the process for resolving noncriminal legal disputes through negotiation, pre-suit proceedings, lawsuits, motions, discovery, mediation, trial and, when appropriate, appeal.Does every civil lawsuit go to trial?
No. Many matters resolve through negotiation, mediation, dispositive motions or other procedures. Trial preparation can nevertheless affect litigation strategy and settlement decisions.What happens after a lawsuit is filed?
The defendant is generally served and responds to the complaint. The case may then involve motions, discovery, depositions, mediation, pretrial proceedings and potentially trial.What is discovery?
Discovery is the formal exchange and development of information through tools such as document requests, interrogatories, requests for admission, subpoenas and depositions.What is a deposition?
A deposition is sworn testimony taken outside the courtroom, usually before a court reporter, and can be important to evaluating witnesses, evidence and trial strategy.What is summary judgment?
Summary judgment is a procedure asking the court to resolve a claim or issue without trial when the applicable legal standard is satisfied.Will my civil case be mediated?
Many Florida civil cases are mediated either by agreement or court order. Mediation gives the parties an opportunity to negotiate a voluntary resolution with a neutral mediator.Can I recover attorney’s fees?
Attorney’s fees are not automatically recoverable in every civil case. Entitlement may depend on a statute, contract, rule, sanction or other legal basis.Can a judgment be appealed?
Some final judgments and certain other orders may be subject to appellate review. Appellate deadlines can be strict, so potential appellate issues should be evaluated promptly.Does St. Johns Law Group represent both plaintiffs and defendants?
Yes. Subject to conflicts, case evaluation and engagement, SJLG handles both plaintiff and defense matters in a range of civil disputes.
Recent Legal Insights
Recent Civil Litigation Articles
Recent SJLG resources addressing lawsuits, trials, business disputes, property litigation and appellate issues.St. Johns Law GroupAppeals
Appeals
Florida Appeals & Appellate Advocacy
Review appellate issues involving civil judgments, legal briefing, preservation and oral advocacy. Read Resource →St. Johns Law GroupProperty Litigation
Litigation
Real Estate Litigation & Property Disputes
Explore contract, title, easement, ownership, disclosure and other Florida property disputes. Read Resource →Talk With Our Litigation Team
Request a Civil Litigation Consultation
If you are considering filing a lawsuit, have been sued, or need advice concerning a developing dispute, contact St. Johns Law Group to discuss the matter and the appropriate next steps.St. Johns Law Group 104 Sea Grove Main Street St. Augustine, Florida 32080 (904) 495-0400 info@sjlawgroup.com