Learning More About Law Firm .
Tia T. Sattewhite
Important Words & Definitions You'll Need To Know When Preparing For A Case ( Google Based ).
Plaintiff
Defendant
Complaint
Summons
Pleadings
Pretrial conference
Mediation
Arbitration
Trial
Preponderance of evidence
Verdict
Appeal.
Plaintiff And The Defendant
The plaintiff in a court case is the person who has filed a complaint/charges against the defendant for prosecution by the courts, while the defendant is the person who is refuting the charges and is seeking to prove their innocence.
For Example :
MARY IS TAKING JOHN TO COURT BECAUSE SHE SAYS SHE BROUGHT HIM A RENTAL CAR IN HER NAME BUT HER NEVER MADE ANY PAYMENTS ON THE CAR WHICH CAUSED HER NAME TO BE MESSED UP AT ( AUTOS RENTAL SHOP ) AND HER CREDIT RUINED, SHE IS SUING JOHN FOR 90,000$ DOLLARS TO COVER ALL THE PAYMENTS SHE HAS TO PAY THAT HE REFUSED TO PAY.
Complaint & Summons
PS !! You have to keep one copy and send a copy of it to the attorney on the other side.
Pleadings
Pretrial conference
A pretrial conference is a meeting of the parties to a case conducted prior to trial. The conference is held before the trial judge or a magistrate, a judicial officer who possesses fewer judicial powers than a judge. A pretrial conference may be held prior to trial in both civil and criminal cases.
Mediation
Mediation law refers to a form of alternative dispute resolution in other terms (ADR) in which the parties to a lawsuit meet with a neutral third-party in an effort to settle the case. The third-party is called a mediator.
Arbitration
In arbitration, disputes are resolved, with binding effect, by a person or persons acting in a judicial manner in private, rather than by a national court of law that would have jurisdiction but for the agreement of the parties to exclude it. The decision of the arbitral tribunal is usually called an award."
Trial
preponderance of evidence
Preponderance of the evidence is required in a civil case and is contrasted with "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is the more severe test of evidence required to convict in a criminal trial. No matter what the definition stated in various legal opinions, the meaning is somewhat subjective.
Verdict
A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
You will sometimes hear someone in the jury say " We have reached a verdict "
Appeal
Make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public.