Understanding Civil Lawsuits

A civil lawsuit is a case that is brought up by a plaintiff and is one in which the individual is seek some sort of monetary compensation for damages that may have incurred or for money that is owed to them, but has never been paid.

More often than not, a civil lawsuit will be conducted in the lower-courts of law; in these instances the plaintiff is the individual who is required to pay for the trial, because they are the individual that called for the trial.

In a civil trial the individual can often have a lawyer who helps to prepare the case for the individual, in order to present it to the court. This person can give the plaintiff the best advice regarding what evidence best supports their claims and what is appropriate conduct in the court.
The individual who is being sued in the civil lawsuit is a defendant. The defendant is the individual of who the claims are brought about regarding damages or a breaching of contract. These are the individuals that the money is being asked of.

Often a civil lawsuit will be done through what is referred to as a bench trial. In a bench trial there is no jury, the only presiding body is the judge. In a bench trial the judge listens to both arguments presented and takes into consideration all of the evidence provided. After some consideration, the judge hands out the verdict. If the plaintiff wins, the defendant has to pay the compensation fees; and the money garnered from the win is divided between the plaintiff and the lawyer. If the plaintiff loses, typically no fee is charged.