Atlanta Civil Litigation Attorney Steve Estep Explains Litigation in Plain English

For those who do not have experience with the legal process, the concept of litigation may be unfamiliar. Here, Atlanta civil litigation attorney Steve Estep explains litigation in easy to understand terms.

What is Litigation?

Litigation is another word for the legal process that begins when a party files a lawsuit. The plaintiff is the person, group, or organization that files the lawsuit, and the defendant is the person, group, or organization that responds. There are two types of litigation: civil and criminal.

Civil Litigation vs. Criminal Litigation

Civil cases are legal disputes between individuals, groups, or organizations. In a civil case, the plaintiff seeks financial restitution ("damages") or to force the defendant to do something or stop doing something. The outcome of this type of case typically impacts only the involved parties, and the parties may settle before they have to go to trial.

Criminal cases involve the government at the local, state, or federal level accusing the defendant of a crime. In a criminal case, the government, represented by a prosecutor or district attorney, seeks to punish the defendant for breaking the law. Criminal cases are seen as impacting society, not just the victim.

Examples of Civil Litigation

There are a few reasons a party may begin civil litigation. For example, in cases involving medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, or product liability, the plaintiff seeks financial compensation.

A party may also begin civil litigation to force a person, group, or organization to take a certain action. Cases involving libel, slander, patents and trademarks, trade secrets, worker's compensation, contract disputes, and disputes between landlords and tenants are handled through civil litigation.

Examples of Criminal Litigation

Any case in which the law has been broken is a criminal case. There are two types of criminal offenses: misdemeanors, which are considered minor crimes, and felonies, which are considered more serious crimes. Examples of criminal offenses that will result in criminal litigation include: breaking and entering, shoplifting, murder, robbery, arson, rape, and drunk driving.

Do You Need a Civil Litigation Attorney?

It is important to realize that the vast majority of civil cases end up being settled before the case goes to trial. In some cases, however, a party will decide that the matter cannot be settled out of court, making it necessary to go through the litigation process. In this situation, having a seasoned civil litigation attorney on your side is absolutely crucial.

Steve Estep is a civil litigation attorney who handles cases in the Atlanta area as well as out of state.

Website: http://veneersfactory.com/steve-estep/

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