what kind of lawyer services cease and desist letter

by Danielle Simonis 8 min read

A civil or criminal attorney could prepare such a letter. It depends on the facts and circumstances of the case and practices / procedures of the particular attorney you contact. There should be a good faith base and merit in sending out the cease and desist letter.

What is a Cease and Desist Letter? A Cease and Desist Letter is a letter that you or an attorney, on your behalf, sends to another person or business to demand that they stop whatever conduct is violating your rights.

Full Answer

Can a lawyer write a cease and desist letter for You?

Also, an attorney can tell you if a cease and desist letter is the appropriate course of action, and can even write the letter for you. In almost all cases involving consumers, a letter from an attorney will be taken more seriously than a letter from an individual.

What are cease and desist letters and settlement demand letters?

Sometimes cease and desist letters contain additional instructions, or demands, such as a demand for compensation—referred to as a settlement demand letter —or a formal request for proper attribution to correct the violation.

Is a cease and desist letter the same as a restraining order?

It is important to note that a cease and desist order, also known as an injunction or restraining order, is different from a letter. As opposed to being sent by an individual or his attorney, an order is an official legally-binding document that is issued by a government agency or a court.

How do I serve a cease-and-desist letter?

You can serve it via mail, email, an attorney and, in some cases, in person. However you choose to serve the letter, keep a record of delivery and receipt by the offending party. If you are sending the cease-and-desist letter yourself, send it via certified mail so that you have a record of delivery. You can also require a signature confirmation.

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What kind of lawyer writes a cease and desist letter?

Anyone can send a cease and desist letter. An attorney does not have to be involved. However, an attorney can advise complainants on whether their rights have been violated and if they have legal and meritorious rights to send a cease and desist letter.

Can you be sued for sending a cease and desist letter?

While it is likely the person writing the cease and desist letter will say they will pursue legal action, and they may even genuinely have plans to do so, getting a cease and desist letter does not mean you will definitely be sued.

Can I write my own cease and desist letter?

How to Serve a Cease-and-Desist Letter. No specified method of delivery is required for a cease-and-desist letter. Because it is not a legal document, you can write and send the letter yourself without the help of a legal professional, or you can hire an attorney to write and serve the letter for you.

Who can issue cease and desist orders?

A cease and desist order is an order by an administrative agency that requires certain practices specified to stop. It is used in Labor and Employment Law, Security Law, Education Law, and a lot of other areas of law. Typically, an administrative judge has the discretion to decide over the issuance of the order.

How much does it cost to send a cease and desist letter?

Hourly Rates for Cease-and-Desist Letters ContractsCounsel's marketplace data shows the average hourly rate for a cease-and-desist letter lawyer ranges from $200 - $350 per hour.

What justifies a cease and desist?

If someone is infringing your trademark or copyright, use a cease and desist letter to make a formal request for them to cease the infringing activities. This shows that you mean business and are prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.

Can a cease and desist letter be considered harassment?

A cease and desist letter has legal power but is not legally binding. It can be considered harassment if the wording is too aggressive or offensive. If you make unsubstantiated legal claims, state untruths, or attempt to intimidate the recipient, you might find yourself in legal hot water.

What happens if you ignore a cease and desist letter?

If you ignore it, the attorney who sent the letter will eventually file a lawsuit in federal court against you for trademark infringement and/or copyright infringement. This action may not happen right away.

Should I be scared of a cease and desist letter?

Either way you dice it, these letters can be very scary to a non-lawyer and should be given the utmost respect, at lease until you know for sure whether the claims in the letter are legally valid. That being said, a cease and desist letter has no legal significance.

How enforceable is a cease and desist?

You may be wondering, is a cease and desist letter enforceable? The letter is not a court order and on its own is not legally enforceable. Therefore, there are no immediate repercussions to non-compliance.

How do you stop someone from slandering you?

You can file a lawsuit for libel or slander, or you can seek a restraining order from the court. But the cheapest step is to first send a cease and desist letter that tells the party to stop or face the consequences.

How do you write a cease and desist order?

Every cease and desist letter requires the same basic contents, such as:Your name and address.The recipient's name and address.A demand that the recipient stop the unlawful behavior.Sending the letter via certified mail, return receipt requested.

Why do lawyers send these letters?

The most common reason someone sends a cease and desist letter is simple efficiency: a letter is simpler and cheaper than a lawsuit.

So What Should I Do If I Receive a Cease and Desist Letter?

There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. If it turns out that the letter was sent by a trademark owner who was just trying to create a paper trail to avoid abandonment or genericide, it might be fine in some cases to ignore the letter.

What is a cease and desist letter?

Cease and desist letters are a written warning sent to the party causing harm that notifies that if they do not stop the mentioned actions, further action and potential legal ramifications will be taken. These letters are not a legally binding order against another party.

Why is it important to send a cease and desist letter?

It is useful to send a cease and desist letter, in these circumstances, to request the opposing party to stop falsified written and oral statements. It is important to include why the statements are false and a correction to the statements in the letter.

What happens if you give a debt collector a cease and desist letter?

By providing the debt collector with a cease and desist letter, the harassing phone calls and abrupt visits to your home can be halted. Once a debt collector receives your letter, they can, legally, only contact you once more. This final contact can only be to explain that they are ceasing communication.

What is a copyright letter?

Copyrights and trademarks give ownership of titles, names, logos, writings, books, music, etc. to the owner of the copyright or trademark. If a party is using your material without receiving your consent first, you may want to consider sending a cease and desist letter.

Can you send a cease and desist letter to another party?

Legally, any person can send a cease and desist letter to another party. This is partly due to the letter not being a legal order to stop the actions. Although, if you are foreseeing a lawsuit in the future, it is good practice to meet with an attorney for guidance.

Can a cease and desist letter be taken lightly?

Personal attacks should not be taken lightly. In certain circumstances, sending the offender a cease and desist letter can provoke them further. However, in a majority of situations, when receiving a cease and desist letter, the offender will understand that you are serious and mean business.

Can a cease and desist letter be used as a first measure of action?

In some instances, a cease and desist letter may not be an appropriate first measure of action.

What is a cease and desist letter?

Updated May 14, 2019. A cease and desist letter is a legal notice sent to someone you believe is infringing on copyrights you own the rights to. The letter is your way of stopping them.

Can civil claims be appealed?

Even if you get a verdict in your favor, the defendant may file an appeal and further extend the legal process.

Do you pay an attorney if she wins a verdict?

In that case, you only pay the attorney if she wins a verdict or obtains a settlement for you. An attorney can also advise you if your rights have, in reality, been violated and if so, if you have enough grounds for legal action. Also, an attorney can tell you if a cease and desist letter is the appropriate course of action, ...

What should a cease and desist letter include?

There are a few items every cease and desist letter should include. First, explain your rights. Second, detail how your rights are being violated. Finally, you must include a command to stop the actions you are being harmed by.

What happens if you send a cease and desist letter?

Issuing a cease and desist notice under the wrong circumstances can cause legal troubles for the sender. If there are threats involved in the letter, it can amount to extortion, blackmail or other crimes. In addition, if the violation turns out to be false, the party receiving the letter can sue for a judgement.

What is a cease and desist notice?

Use a cease and desist notice if you want to issue a formal warning to someone to stop doing what they're doing. This includes using your property, harassing you, or illegally using your trademarks. Usually, but not always, a cease and desist is the first formal step following an informal notification.

What is the difference between a cease and desist order and a cease and desist letter?

A cease and desist order is different from a cease and desist letter. The main difference is in terms of legality. Letters have almost no legal standing. Orders do. A cease and desist order is granted by a court. It serves as a temporary injunction.

What is the first step to take to address these issues?

Engaging in illegal or suspicious activity that involves someone's work. The first step that you can take to address these issues is to send a cease and desist letter.

What is the purpose of cease and desist?

However, it fulfills an important function in the legal process. It establishes that you have told the offender about their violation. They now cannot claim they didn't know they were in violation.

Why do we need a cease and desist?

It also often stops the offending behavior without the need to take it any further.

Why do you need a cease and desist letter?

Common reasons to use a desist and cease letter include: Intellectual property infringement: A cease and desist letter is often the first step in resolving a dispute over copyright, trademark, or patent infringement. Breach of contract: After you have entered ...

What is the difference between a cease and desist order and a letter?

It is important to note that a cease and desist order, also known as an injunction or restraining order, is different from a letter. As opposed to being sent by an individual or his attorney, an order is an official legally-binding document that is issued by a government agency or a court.

How to get a cease and desist order?

To obtain a cease and desist order, you must file a lawsuit or other paperwork with the court. The papers filed and the terminology used will differ depending on the circumstances and your state law. After the paperwork is filed, the other side will have an opportunity to respond, and the court will decide on the matter based on all ...

What to do after giving the party time to respond?

After giving the party time to respond to or cease the activity, you should consider your next steps. The letter may only be the first step in resolving the conflict. If the party asserts he or she is not legally required to stop the activity, such as if there is a disagreement over whether or not a term of the contract has been breached, ...

What does it mean to send a letter to a court?

In addition, sending a letter provides evidence that the party had notice of the illegal behavior but continued to engage in it. In some cases, such as trademark infringement, this may allow you to collect additional money damages if you decide to bring the case to court.

How to preserve your rights?

To preserve your rights, you may include a statement that you are not waiving present or future rights to sue based on prior misconduct. Send the letter via certified mail, as this will provide a record that it was sent to the correct party.

What information should be included in a cease and desist letter?

If you are writing the letter yourself, you should include the following information: Your name and contact information. Name and contact information of the person or business being asked to stop the behavior.

Can you send a cease and desist letter yourself?

No specified method of delivery is required for a cease-and-desist letter. Because it is not a legal document, you can write and send the letter yourself without the help of a legal professional, or you can hire an attorney to write and serve the letter for you.

Can you write a cease and desist letter?

They are relatively simple to write up and you don't even need an attorney to serve them.

If I can send a cease and desist letter, why should I use an attorney?

Anyone can write and send out a cease and desist letter. There are a few reasons, however, why you should strongly consider using an attorney instead:

What is the difference between a cease and desist letter and a cease and desist order?

Some people confuse cease and desist letters with cease and desist orders. The primary difference is that a cease and desist letter does not have legal weight backed by a court – it is a notice and demand letter sent by someone or their attorney. A cease and desist letter is a measure used before resorting to more serious action such as a lawsuit.

Final thoughts

If someone is harassing you or infringing on your rights, having a legal professional send a cease and desist letter on your behalf can be a fast and cost-effective way to enforce your rights and put a stop to the offending activities. Demand Letters is your best option for finding a legal professional that will assist you for a low flat rate.

What to do with a cease and desist letter?

It is almost always best to seek some legal advice for Cease and Desist letters. Often Cease and Desist Letters are used to bully or scare you. Lawyers can help to decipher the legal jargon in the letter and assist you in determining the correct response. Finding a good lawyer can save you time and expenses by addressing the issue early on.

What to do if you don't agree with a letter?

Depending on what they want you to do, sometimes the easiest way to deal with the letter is to give in. Even if you do not agree with what they are alleging, if the requested remedy does not disrupt you or your business, then compliance may be the best option.

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