Looking for free, expert advice about litigation? Look here for articles, answers and other helpful resources regarding the various types of litigation, how to navigate the courts system, how and when to seek legal counsel, and more.
Litigation is a process through which two private individuals make use of the court system to work out a grievance and to determine if a legal duty was breached such that one party may seek a legal remedy against another. The litigation process begins when one party files a civil or tort lawsuit against another party. The pre-trial phase comes next and may involve an attempt at alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation, as well as a process of discovery where information is shared. Both the plaintiff who brought the case and the defendant who is responding to it may also make motions or formal requests to the court to dismiss the case, preclude or allow certain evidence or otherwise set the rules for how the litigation will work. The case will then progress to a trial in front of either a judge or a jury who will arrive at a verdict. If either party is not satisfied with the verdict, that party may appeal. To learn more about these different types and stages of litigation, and the laws governing the process, explore the articles and answers in this section through the links on this page.