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Defendant: Someone being charged with a crime
Complaint: A formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought
Summons: A notice directing someone to appear in court to answer a complaint
Pleadings: The complaint and the answer combined in a civil case
Pretrial Conference: A conference held before the trial begins
Mediation: Situation in which a third party helps reach an agreement
Arbitration: Situation in which a third party listens to each side, reviews the case, and makes a final decision that is binding for both parties
Trial: A formal examination of evidence before a judge
Prepondenerance of Evidence: The greater weight of the evidence required in a civil lawsuit for the judge to decide in favor of one side or the other.
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 a review from a higher case