WHAT IS CIVIL LITIGATION?

Civil litigation is the legal process for resolving non-criminal disputes between individuals, businesses, or organizations, where one party (plaintiff) sues another (defendant) seeking money (damages) or a specific remedy rather than punishment. 

Money damages are the most common legal remedy in civil cases. Civil litigation covers a wide range of issues such as contract breaches, personal injury, property disputes, family matters, and employment issues.  

The Civil Suit Process

1. Pleadings Stage: A Florida civil suit starts with the plaintiff filing a Complaint and Summons, officially notifying the defendant, who then has a certain amount of time to answer, beginning the pleadings stage. 

2. Discovery: (Information Gathering) Parties exchange information through written questions, Depositions (sworn out-of-court testimony), and requests for documents.

3. Pretrial: Parties file request to the judge (Motions). A judge sets the deadlines for the case. Then parties try to settle through alternative dispute resolution before trial.

4. Trial: When a case cannot be resolved out of court, it goes to a judge and or jury. Both sides have an opportunity to present their cases. The plaintiff must show their claims are “more likely true than not.”

5. Appeal: Either party can appeal the judge’s decision or a jury’s verdict to a higher court.