Do you know the difference between civil litigation and criminal litigation? If your answer is no, don’t feel embarrassed. The legal system and many of its associated terms and processes can be confusing and a tad overwhelming — especially when you find yourself in the middle of a legal issue for the first time.
Disputes in the United States legal system fall under one of these two types of litigation processes. While both are meant to address some form of wrongdoing, they couldn’t be more different. Today’s blog post will hopefully shed light on the differences.
What Is Civil Litigation?
Civil litigation is a fancy term for a broad and focusd branch of law that begins when a person or entity files a dispute against another person or entity because they believe they have been injured or wronged and deserve compensation for those damages.
Examples of common civil litigation cases:
- Someone is suing you and your business
- You were injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence
- One party in the case believes the other broke the terms of a legal contract
- Landlord and tenant disputes
- Partnership disputes over dissolving a business
- Someone is suing you over damaging their property
- You are seeking a restraining order or injunction to stop something
- You are suing someone for fraud, defamation, or even medical malpractice
What Is Criminal Litigation?
While civil cases usually involve disputes between people or organizations, criminal litigation alleges a violation of law and is brought by the state against the person(s) or entity accused of committing the crime. Criminal cases have their own set of rules, procedures, and consequences that can include everything from imprisonment to fines, probation, and community service.
Examples of common criminal litigation cases:
- Drug cases
- Domestic violence
- Assault and battery
- Murder
- DUI and public intoxication
- Disorderly conduct
- Theft
The attorneys at Christman | Daniell Attorneys, understand the significant expense, time, and stress generated by any type of litigation and are eager to help when the need arises. You may not realize what you did wrong if you are the defendant, and you may not feel confident that your case is winnable if you are the plaintiff. You can rest easy knowing we’re in your corner when that time comes.
We’ve been involved in hundreds of civil disputes, and our seasoned attorneys are here to advocate and protect your interests.
Please call Christman | Daniell Attorneys, for your legal needs today!
Please consult an attorney for advice about your situation. The material on this website and in this or any blog article we publish are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. The attorneys at Christman | Daniell Attorneys believe in tailoring legal advice and solutions to your circumstances.
We have an unwavering commitment to helping our clients at each stage of their legal situation.
