How the Civil Court Works
By: Bryson Lowery
What Is The Civil Court
When you sue someone for damages, such as for assault or defamation, you are engaging in a civil court action. The legal justice system is divided into two main courts: criminal and civil.
Defintions you need to know!
Plaintiff-a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Defendant-an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Complaint-a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.
Summons-an order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it.
Pleadings-a formal statement of the cause of an action or defense.
Pretrial-If the Defendant(s) answers the Complaint, the case will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference
Meditation-intervention in a dispute in order to resolve it; arbitration.
Arbitration-the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute
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- This preponderance is based on the more convincing evidence and its probable truth or accuracy, and not on the amount of evidence.
Verdict-a decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
appeal-make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public.