CIVIL LITIGATION
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Civil litigation is the legal process through which parties seek to resolve disputes that arise between them. In civil litigation, one party (the plaintiff) brings a lawsuit against another party (the defendant) alleging that the defendant has wronged the plaintiff in some way and is seeking damages or some other form of relief.
Civil litigation can involve a wide range of disputes, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, professional malpractice, property disputes, debt collection, and claims related to business, employment, insurance, and other areas of law.
The civil litigation process typically involves the following steps:
- Issuing a claim: The plaintiff has a claim issued by the court outlining the allegations against the defendant and the relief sought.
- Service of the claim: The defendant is served with a copy of the claim, which informs them about the lawsuit and of their obligation to respond.
- Defending the claim: The defendant can respond to the claim by filing a defence or bringing a motion to dismiss.
- Discovery: Both parties have the opportunity to request documents and information from the other party and to examine (interview) witnesses as part of the discovery process.
- Pre-trial motions: Parties may bring motions to request certain relief or make arguments about the case before trial.
- Trial: The case goes to trial before a judge or jury, who hears evidence and arguments from both sides and decides the case.
- Appeal: If either party is dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial, they may appeal the decision to a higher court.
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