Lawsuits, Courts & Mediation
When people have disputes that need to be settled, they can seek a decision from a court (by filing a lawsuit) or from another party outside of the court system (such as an arbitrator or mediator.)
The term “litigation” means to contest or engage someone in a lawsuit. A civil action is a lawsuit brought by an injured party (the “plaintiff”) who claims to have suffered damages as a result of the wrongful actions of another party (the “defendant.”) Litigation allows for each party to obtain more evidence about their case (discovery and interrogatories), call witnesses to testify and argue the merits of their case. A judge or jury will render a verdict after both sides present their case. The U.S. court system consists primarily of federal courts (making decisions concerning federal law and disputes between residents of different states), state courts, city and municipal courts, appeals courts and courts of special jurisdiction. Small Claims Court is used mostly by consumers to settle small disputes. It is locally accessible, more informal and less costly than most civil courts which usually suggest the need for a lawyer. Arbitration and mediation are alternative forms of resolving legal disputes outside of the court system which are usually less costly, more informal and move more quickly to a conclusion.
Categories
Trending articles
-
-
Article 'How to file, win, and defend a Small Claims Court lawsuit in New York City'- Michael Wechsler
Comments: 0 -
-
Article 'Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Frequently Asked Questions'
- Michael Wechsler
Comments: 0 -
-
Court System Court Interpreters: Who They Are and Why They’re Important for US Courts
Courtroom interpreters play a crucial role in ensuring that the US justice system is able to serve the needs of individuals with low English proficiency. Census data in the past decade has shown that the number of LEP individuals in the United States has reached 25 million, making court...
The following is a summary of legal best practices to follow for people who are not lawyers that seek to file a lawsuit in the small claims court in New York City. The New York State Unified Court System (NYSUCS) is the judicial branch of New York State, which provides and supervises state...
The following are frequently asked questions with answers about alternative dispute resolution, which includes arbitration, mediation and conciliation.
What does the term "alternative dispute resolution" mean?
Alternative dispute resolution (commonly abbreviated as "ADR") means the use of a...
Courtroom interpreters play a crucial role in ensuring that the US justice system is able to serve the needs of individuals with low English proficiency. Census data in the past decade has shown that the number of LEP individuals in the United States has reached 25 million, making court...
What is the Statute of Limitations? Why is it necessary? This article is a transcript of the legal presentation covering the Statute of Limitations.
What is the Statute of Limitations?
The Statute of Limitations is a law which limits the amount of time after something happens for which a case...
The Oregon Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Oregon state court to litigate that...
The Utah Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Utah state court to litigate that matter...
The Oklahoma Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Oklahoma state court to litigate that...
The Idaho Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Idaho state court to litigate that...
The Iowa Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Iowa state court to litigate that matter...
The Arkansas Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Arkansas state court to litigate that...
The Alaska Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in an Alaska state court to litigate that...
The District of Columbia Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a District of Columbia state...
The Washington Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Washington state court to litigate...
The Wyoming Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Wyoming state court to litigate that...
The Wisconsin Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Wisconsin state court to litigate...
The West Virginia Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a West Virginia state court to...
The Virginia Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Virginia state court to litigate that...
The Vermont Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Vermont state court to litigate that...
The Tennessee Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Tennessee state court to litigate...
The Rhode Island Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Rhode Island state court to...