When people think about civil litigation, one of the first things that comes to mind is a personal injury claim, which involves one party’s attempt to collect monetary compensation for an injury caused by another person’s reckless or negligent conduct. While it is true that this is a type of civil litigation, the term actually encompasses a much wider range of legal issues, including business disputes and product liability claims. Because this is such a broad category, it can be difficult to figure out how and when to file a claim in court. If you are involved in a legal dispute, you should consider retaining an experienced Walla Walla civil litigation lawyer.

What is Civil Litigation?

Civil litigation refers to a legal dispute between at least two individuals or entities who are seeking monetary compensation from each other. Unlike criminal cases, which involve the prosecution of a defendant by the state for a criminal act, such as drug possession, civil litigation does not result in jail time for the convicted. Instead, this individual will be required to compensate the plaintiff for economic losses. For instance, a plaintiff injured in a car crash by someone who ran a red light could expect to collect compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. However, before a plaintiff can collect damages, they need to demonstrate to a judge or jury that the defendant’s actions were the direct cause of the accident, which can be extremely difficult, if not impossible without the aid of an attorney.

Civil cases take place in a variety of locations, including bankruptcy court, federal court, and state court. Many civil cases never actually make it to trial, as the parties are able to come to an out-of-court agreement during mediation or arbitration. This is often a preferable outcome for plaintiffs who might otherwise have been forced to attend a number of court hearings and undergo a trial, which can be both time-consuming and expensive.

Types of Claims

As previously mentioned, civil litigation covers a wide range of legal issues, including those based on the following:

• Estate litigation;
• Trust litigation;
• Guardianship;
• Real estate disputes;
• Labor and employment litigation;
• Securities litigation; and
• Business disputes.

Many of these issues require knowledge of specific court procedures. Workers’ compensation claims, for example, require plaintiffs to go through a specific set of steps involving a review board before a case can be filed in court. Failing to follow these rules could jeopardize a plaintiff’s ability to collect damages, which makes it especially important for these individuals to consult with an experienced attorney before filing a claim.

Call a Walla Walla Civil Litigation Attorney

Although civil litigation does not involve criminal sanctions, it can still have a substantial impact on a plaintiff’s future, so if you have questions about a non-criminal legal matter, please contact Basalt Legal PLLC to speak with an experienced civil litigation lawyer who can advise you.