Lawsuits, Courts & Mediation
When people have disputes that need to be settled, they can seek a decision from a court (by filing a lawsuit) or from another party outside of the court system (such as an arbitrator or mediator.)
The term “litigation” means to contest or engage someone in a lawsuit. A civil action is a lawsuit brought by an injured party (the “plaintiff”) who claims to have suffered damages as a result of the wrongful actions of another party (the “defendant.”) Litigation allows for each party to obtain more evidence about their case (discovery and interrogatories), call witnesses to testify and argue the merits of their case. A judge or jury will render a verdict after both sides present their case. The U.S. court system consists primarily of federal courts (making decisions concerning federal law and disputes between residents of different states), state courts, city and municipal courts, appeals courts and courts of special jurisdiction. Small Claims Court is used mostly by consumers to settle small disputes. It is locally accessible, more informal and less costly than most civil courts which usually suggest the need for a lawyer. Arbitration and mediation are alternative forms of resolving legal disputes outside of the court system which are usually less costly, more informal and move more quickly to a conclusion.
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Court System Court Interpreters: Who They Are and Why They’re Important for US Courts
Courtroom interpreters play a crucial role in ensuring that the US justice system is able to serve the needs of individuals with low English proficiency. Census data in the past decade has shown that the number of LEP individuals in the United States has reached 25 million, making court...
The Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Pennsylvania state court to...
The North Dakota Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a North Dakota state court to...
The South Dakota Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a South Dakota state court to...
The South Carolina Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a South Carolina state court to...
The North Carolina Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a North Carolina state court to...
The New Mexico Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a New Mexico state court to litigate...
The New Hampshire Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a New Hampshire state court to...
The Nevada Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Nevada state court to litigate that...
The Nebraska Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Nebraska state court to litigate that...
The Montana Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Montana state court to litigate that...
The Missouri Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Missouri state court to litigate that...
The Mississippi Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Mississippi state court to litigate...
The Maine Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Maine state court to litigate that...
The Delaware Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Delaware state court to litigate that...
The Louisiana Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Louisiana state court to litigate...
The Minnesota Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Minnesota state court to litigate...
The Hawaii Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Hawaii state court to litigate that...
The Michigan Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Michigan state court to litigate that...
The Kansas Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Kansas state court to litigate that...
The Kentucky Statute of Limitations for civil actions sets a time limit after an injury or civil wrong occurs, during which an injured party can file a lawsuit. After that period of time expires, the injured party is no longer permitted to file a claim in a Kentucky state court to litigate that...