Wierse Law Firm
Vocabulary for New Clients
Vocabulary:
Defendant - the individual or group being charged/sued with a crime
Complaint - a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought
Summons - an order to appear in person at a given place and time
Pleadings - the complaint and the answer combined in a civil case
Pretrial Conference - a meeting called by a judge between both parties in a civil case to help clarify differences between the two sides
Mediation - situation in which a third party helps the defendant and plaintiff reach an agreement
Arbitration - when a third party listens to the plaintiff and defendant, reviews the case and makes a final binding decision for both parties
Trial - a formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings
Preponderance of evidence - the idea that the weight of the plaintiff's evidence in a civil trial clearly points to the defendant being at fault
Verdict - decision in a case made by a judge or jury
Appeal - if the losing party believes something went wrong in the case, they can ask for review from a higher court