Civil Lawsuits

Civil Lawsuits Legal Help, Lawyers and Barristers

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In law, defamation is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may harm the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government or nation. Most jurisdictions allow legal actions, civil and/or criminal, to deter various kinds of defamation and retaliate against criticism.

Understanding a Civil Lawsuit

In a civil lawsuit, the victim or victims also called the plaintiff brings his or her case for money damages against the offender or a third party for causing physical or emotional injuries. Regardless of the outcome of any criminal prosecution, or even if there was no prosecution, crime victims can file civil lawsuits against offenders and other responsible parties. The person who starts the lawsuit is called the plaintiff, and the person or entity against whom the case is brought is called the defendant. Unlike a criminal case, in which the central question is whether the offender is guilty of the crime, in a civil lawsuit, the question is whether an offender or a third party is responsible for the injuries suffered

In a civil suit, unlike a criminal prosecution, the plaintiff is usually responsible for most of the costs of the litigation. Most barristers handle the victims cases on a contingency basis, which means that the attorney fee is deducted from the final award or settlement. This allows individuals to have access to the civil justice system without the need to finance the case themselves. If the case is not successful, the victim usually pays nothing (No Win No Fee). In a civil suit, the attorney directly represents the victims interests and the victim has greater control in case decision-making than in a criminal prosecution. A civil lawsuit is different from the compensation available from the Attorney General’s Victim Compensation Division.