What is an affidavit of merit?

An affidavit of merit is a document that must be filed in certain civil legal cases involving negligence in the state of Pennsylvania. In these cases, an affidavit of merit is required to demonstrate that an individual who is filing a lawsuit against another party has a valid legal claim. An affidavit of merit must be signed by a relevant professional, such as an expert witness or a medical doctor. The affidavit of merit must be filed along with the complaint and must contain a statement from the relevant professional that indicates that the party filing the complaint has a reasonable basis to believe that the negligence of the other party caused harm or injury and led to the filing of the lawsuit. The affidavit must include the professional’s opinion as to the standard of care that was expected and the standards that were violated. The purpose of an affidavit of merit is to help weed out illegitimate claims and ensure that only cases with a reasonable chance of success go to trial. It helps to protect both parties in a civil lawsuit from frivolous lawsuits that could potentially waste time and money.

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What is an affidavit of merit?

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