Civil Law Suits

If someone makes an allegation against you that you committed identity theft you face the potential of both criminal prosecution and a civil law suit being lodged against you. You must be ready to...

While criminal law tends to get the most notice, civil law actually makes up the largest number of cases in the U.S. legal system. A civil court action begins when you file a lawsuit against...

The rules and procedures associated with filing a petition in civil court are similar across the country. Although there are some local variations, overall the main elements of starting a civil...

Sometimes taking your case through trial may not be the best answer. In the moment, you may be emotionally charged to have your grievance heard, and that can be natural. However, before you...

A contingency fee agreement is one in which an attorney works for her client for free unless the attorney wins the client's case. If the attorney wins the case, she is entitled to a substantial...

When you receive notice of a lawsuit filed with your state's small claims court, you need to turn your thoughts to your defense. In most states, you don't have to have a lawyer to defend you, but...

There a numerous reasons you may want to dismiss a small claims case. If you and the opposing party have reached an out-of-court settlement, dismissing the case is appropriate. You also may...

So you've received a summons to appear in court for a credit card debt. What this means is that a creditor has decided to sue you in a civil court case for a debt you owe. You may not have heard...

Small-claims court is sometimes called the people's court because you can't have a lawyer represent you. It is designed to quickly and inexpensively settle claims that amount to $7,500 or less.

A judgment is an order entered on a court's docket that signifies that a plaintiff has prevailed in his case against a defendant. Most courts call the judgment an entry or order of judgment. The...

Small claims court is a convenient method of resolving disputes involving small amounts of money---in most jurisdictions, $2,500 or less. After you file your claim, you will be assigned a hearing...

In thinking of civil court, most people conjure an image of a lively trial. The reality is that the vast majority of work done in a civil court is far more low-key. For example, in any given civil...

Hiring a lawyer is an important step. You should find someone you trust and with whom you can develop a good working relationship. It's not difficult to retain a lawyer, since that's how most...

Filing for your small claims case with the court clerk is the easy part. The most difficult feat is getting over your jitters and speaking to the judge on the day of your case in a clear, concise...

A small claims suit is a civil case between two parties, or litigants. The court proceedings will take place in a civil court, also called a county court, and the proceedings are under the...

Civil lawsuits in court are complex processes that require plenty of knowledge and experience to successfully win. While criminal court deals with violations against the law, civil courts address...

Most civil court judgments are subject to an appeals process. An appeal does not mean you have to re-argue your case. Rather, a higher court will review the decision of the lower court to see if...

Defamation is a serious legal violation that a person could commit against another individual. In some cases, most people do not know that they could speak comments or remarks that are candidates...

Each legal jurisdiction establishes its own rules regarding the timeframe and manner in which you must answer a petition. Before drafting your answer to a petition, locate a copy of your...

Reaching an out-of-court settlement can save both the plaintiff and defendant time and money, as well as free up the court system for cases that cannot be resolved without litigation. Negotiating...

The procedure to appeal court decisions made in California varies, depending on whether they are civil or criminal case, and state or federal court decisions. State cases begin in the local...

If you were involved in an auto accident and the other driver was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for property damage, personal injury, pain and suffering, lost wages, and in the...

If you have suffered an injury and you think you want the help of an attorney, you should prepare yourself before you ever talk to an attorney. You should first understand the different ways you...

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are rules that govern lawsuits filed in the U.S. district (federal) court system. The Federal Rules apply to the various procedures that are utilized in order...

Have you found yourself in a situation where you feel you are entitled to compensation for property? For instance, property you sold to a well-spoken, easy-going buyer who ended up running out on...

Choosing an attorney is the most important decision you will make in filing and having a sucessful outcome in your lawsuit. I will walk you through the do's and don't of hiring an attorney.

A medical malpractice case represents one of the most complicated and challenging types of all legal proceedings. Consequently, many decisions in medical malpractice cases end up on appeal. A...

Judge Judith Sheindlin – better known as Judge Judy – is perhaps the most infamous television judge in the United States. She has presided over real civil cases in her stage “court room” for...

Interrogatories are written questions that are answered under oath during the discovery or evidence-gathering phase of a civil lawsuit. Interrogatories play a crucial role in the development of...

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern all civil litigation in the federal courts. The Rules are created by the United States Supreme Court, and then approved by the United States Congress. ...

A civil court is a court that handles noncriminal legal matters. In other words, it's for someone who has not been accused of violating the law. Rather, it's where private individuals or entities...

A deposition is the questioning of any person, whether a party to a lawsuit or not. The deponent is placed under oath, and lawyers for each party may ask questions which they think will lead to...

In North Carolina, individuals regularly represent themselves in small claims court lawsuits. Small claims are decided in the Magistrate Courts of North Carolina. These courts have jurisdiction...

The final outcome of a court case is called a judgment. In criminal cases, a judgment is the result of jury deliberations and is usually called a verdict. This reflects the circumstances of a...

When you're involved in some form of litigation, at some point you will probably be asked for a legal statement explaining your side in the matter. This legal statement must be clear, concise and...

If you have been evicted from a property by a court order or have lost an unlawful detainer case in court, it will show on your record as an eviction. Some eviction records are only recorded at...

When you take someone to court, you need to prepare what is called a "statement of the case" to be presented to the court clerks and eventually the judge who will decide your case. The judge needs...

Small claims court is designed to settle disputes efficiently and inexpensively. Even so, every effort to resolve the dispute by compromise, negotiation or even formal remediation should be tried...

A personal injury case is a legal contest, usually between private parties, in which one side is seeking money damages from the other side as compensation for injuries. Personal injury cases are...

After you have retained an attorney and agreed on a fee arrangement, careful planning can keep your legal costs to a minimum.

Businesses are the most frequent target of personal injury law suits because their financial resources represent an ability to pay damages. Frequently, this happens in the workplace, where...

Whether you need help in litigation with your neighbor, drafting a will, or setting up a corporation, you should make the effort to find the attorney who is best suited to handle your legal needs....

Obtaining justice in the courtroom often depends on choosing the right advocate. You need an attorney with experience handling personal injury cases and passion for your cause, so you should avoid...

There may unfortunately come a time in your life when you have been injured either at work, in a car accident or other incident. Because of your injury, you may find that you need an attorney for...

Child molesters can cause long-term emotional and sometimes physical damage to a child. From a legal standpoint, child molesters can face both criminal charges and civil liability. Lawsuits filed...

In the State of Georgia, individuals regularly represent themselves in small claims court lawsuits. Small claims are decided in the Magistrate Courts of Georgia. These courts have jurisdiction...

Small Claims Court hears and decides smaller civil lawsuits: those filed for $5000 or less. Yet just because the financial limits are smaller doesn't make the court appearance any less stressful,...

When pursuing legal action against an entity, it is hoped that the entity isn't someone sworn to uphold all areas of the law, as is the case when bringing suit against a judge. This lawsuit can be...

Medical malpractice is defined as negligence; it's the failure to act in the same way another prudent medical professional would under the same circumstances. There are some circumstances where...