Lawsuit

A lawsuit is a claim which is initiated by a person called the plaintiff against a person or entity. Civil lawsuits are initiated when a claimant has been injured by another person(s) or business and their injuries were due to the negligent actions of the other party. Lawsuits allow for compensation to the victim for the injuries or loss. Civil claims generally provide monetary compensation.

To initiate a lawsuit the plaintiff files a complaint with the court and serves the defendant with a copy. The defendant has a specified time period to respond to the complaint or the court has the legal right to find in favor of the plaintiff.

Alternative dispute resolutions such as mediation and arbitration have become more popular forms of resolving conflicts rather than taking a case to court. Lawsuits can be very expensive and time-consuming for both the plaintiff and the defendant.

To win a civil lawsuit the plaintiff must prove, through a preponderance of evidence, that the defendant's actions were negligent and the defendant breached their duty of care. Additionally, the plaintiff must prove loss or injury. If the plaintiff wins their personal injury lawsuit they can be paid monetary compensation for lost wages, medical costs and pain and suffering.