Can an Amrican file a lawsuit against someone from a diffrent country?

Question

like a brit or someone from like Japan or something?

Answer 1

It may depend upon where they are, what they did, and where they did it to you. If they are "from" away, but located in the USA, you can sue them  wherever you find them. You may also sue people, in some cases, if they do "business" in your state, or own property in your state, even if they happen to live in another country.  It is up to them to hire an attorney to change the venue, get the case dismissed, or to defend the case.

This is one reason it is sometimes a good idea to sue them here before they sue you in a very far away (and expensive or incomprehensible) place.

Answer 2

Sure.  You can go to Britain or Japan and file suit.

You could, in the alternative, file suit against them in United States courts if the court has jurisdiction over the defendant under a "long arm" statute or if you can serve legal papers on the foreigner when he is in the United States.

Answer 3

They have to file in the other country wil a local lawyer.

Cost a whole lot.

Answer 4

If she or he is living here, yes you can. But if they are in another country, you would have to go there.

Answer 5

If they are simply from Japan but live in Britain, then there is no problem whatsoever to file suit. There is personal jurisdiction and in rem jurisdiction.

You can also file suit in in the US against the Japanese or British defendant, even if the defendant lives in Japan or Britain, or any other country. The issue that would be controlling is jurisdiction. Also the execution of the judgment is another issue.

Even if a court agrees to hear the case, even in absentia, getting execution of the order of the court might be impossible.

Generally, in the U.S., a person/entity must have sufficient contacts to have jurisdiction exercised against them.

There are some treaties which state that countries have to recognize the court orders of other countries, but it does not apply to all, and it is specific to the type of suit.

So first a court would have to decide it has jurisdiction, if it does, then you would have to find a way to execute the order.

Basically you can file a a lawsuit against anyone anywhere.