What is civil litigation?

The term litigation refers to any lawsuit that is brought before a court in order to recover a right, obtain damages, obtain injunction, prevent injury or obtain a declaratory judgment to prevent future legal disputes. Civil litigation is any lawsuit that is does not involve a criminal charge. Therefore, there is a multitude of civil action brought to court on a daily basis and they all rank under the umbrella term "civil litigation."

Examples of civil litigation

* Consumer protection litigation more info...
* Residential and commercial construction litigation
* Debt collection litigation
* Personal injury litigation
* Defamation action litigation
* Contract dispute litigation
* Business litigation
* Real Estate litigation
* Estate (Probate) litigation

Generally, the purpose of civil litigation is dispute resolution of private law issues regarding business entities, individuals or non-profit organizations.

Procedure in civil litigation cases

As civil procedures are constrained by separate statutory law, case law and constitutional provisions, the details of the civil lawsuit differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Often, the courts within a particular jurisdiction may also have additional and separate rules and regulations that apply only to that jurisdiction.

It is important that each person involved in a civil lawsuit fully understand the underlying procedures and time implications (also known as "statutes of limitation"), as this might have serious consequences on limiting the trial or even possible termination of the lawsuit.

The majority of civil lawsuits are settled either outside of the court or never proceed to an actual trial. However, complications can arise when other states' laws are involved and when parties to the litigation are from different states. Additionally, the more parties that are involved, the more complex the litigation can become. There is the chance of bringing in cross-claims and counter-claims into play and sometimes, courts need to separate out claims and parties into separate suits in order to promote efficiency and avoid overlapping factual issues.

Civil litigation lawsuits are routine in the U.S courts. If you filing a lawsuit, or if you are being brought into court in a civil case, it is crucial to educate yourself about the court proceedings and the applying state laws, as every case is very time-sensitive and deadlines are strictly enforced.

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