You might have heard the term “civil litigation” before. But what does it mean, actually? In today’s post, we discuss the basics of civil litigation, from a definition to some of the most common types of civil litigation cases.
What Is Civil Litigation?
Simply put, civil litigation is a process of resolving non-criminal disputes between two non-governmental parties.
Civil litigation and civil law are usually opposed to criminal law.
The most important difference between these two branches of law is that in a civil litigation case, two individuals dispute their rights, while the aim of a criminal case is to decide whether the government should punish an individual if it is determined that they committed a criminal offense.
The Basics Elements of Civil Litigation
In a civil litigation case, you will typically have two parties, plaintiff and defendant.
The plaintiff is the person or business who claims to have been harmed by the actions of another individual or business, known as the defendant.
Plaintiffs turn to the courts to seek compensation (often in the form of money) from the defendant for the damage incurred.
Common Examples of Civil Litigation Cases
As you can see, the scope of civil litigation is broad by nature and includes many different types of disputes. Below you will find some of the most common examples of civil litigation cases.
Personal Injury Claims
This is the formal process of seeking legal remedy for damages caused by the actions or negligence of another person or business (for example, hit and runs, slips, and falls).
Breach of Contract
You can initiate this type of dispute when you sign a contract and the other party fails to fulfill the obligations stipulated in the contract (for example, a contract requires a contractor to fix a bathroom and the contractor fails to do so).
Real Estate Issues
This includes disputes involving land, such as boundary disputes, eminent domain, and title defect claims
Product Liability
This type of case arises when the plaintiff seeks compensation for the damage caused by a product that had manufacturing, design, or marketing defects (for example, a product that contains inadequate warnings).
Professional Negligence
Professional negligence occurs when a professional such as a doctor, nurse, accountant, dentist, or chiropractor, commits a negligent, wrongful, or incompetent act when they were supposed to act according to the standards of their profession (for example, when a doctor prescribes the wrong medication).
Need Help With a Civil Litigation Case in San Bernardino? Contact the EBL Law Group
Civil litigation proceeds can be complex. The good news is that you have a legal team ready to offer the knowledgeable guidance you need. When you choose the EBL Group to represent you in a civil litigation case, you receive the benefit of personalized attention and total commitment to your case.
At the EBL Law Group, we offer dependable, straightforward legal assistance in family law, business law, criminal law, estate planning, civil litigation, immigration law, and real estate law.
We are located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Call us at (909) 581-4351 for a free consultation, or fill out the contact form on this website to get in touch with our team.