Law firm!
Essential vocab!
Plaintiff
A person or party filling a lawsuit.
Could have evidence to win the case or to get the defendant to address damages in case.
Defendant
A person or group of people being charged or sued for a particular case/crime. All cases must contain a defendant or the case will not take place.
Complaint
A complaint/description that is a formal statement that describes and names the defendant and lawsuit.
Summons
When the court requests the appearance of an individual in court because the person is either convicted or a witness.
Pleadings
The answering and the complaint combined in a civil court case.
Pretrial Conference
When the parties meeting to address their attorneys held before the court prior to the court case proceedings.
Mediation
A third party helps the plaintiff and defendant make an final decision.
Arbitration
Third party listens to the plaintiff and defendant, reviews the case, than makes a final decision for both parties
Trial
A determination of the legal and facts arising between parities to a civil action or criminal action.
Preponderance of evidence
A standard of the amount of proof the plaintiff must have to win a case.
Verdict
The final decision made by jury or judge.
Appeal
The losing party believes the case didn't get trialed fairly in a case the losing party can ask to be tried in a higher court.