Wed. May 25th, 2022

If you have ever faced a civil lawsuit, you know they can be confusing and stressful. Whether you are suing someone or being sued, you need to know how the process works and what to expect. Before you hire a civil litigation lawyer Scranton PA, these are the things you should know about civil litigation.

What is Civil Litigation?

If you have been wronged by another individual or company, you may file a civil lawsuit. Civil litigation often involves one party’s desire to be monetarily reimbursed for damages caused by another party. In these cases, no criminal charges are filed. Although you can sue someone who has been convicted of a crime to recover losses as well, these cases are between people and businesses, and do not typically involve government bodies.

What Are Examples of Civil Cases?

If someone has wronged you and has damaged your person, reputation or property, you may have a civil lawsuit. This type of claim is called a tort. Personal injuries, negligence, defamation, fraud and medical malpractice are examples of torts.

You can also request that the defendant stop acting in a specific way. For example, if your neighbor is driving on your lawn, destroying your personal property, after all other avenues have been exhausted, you can sue your neighbor to get them to stop driving on your lawn.

Breach of contract occurs when someone promises to do something for you in return for something from you. For example, you may agree to a sales price for specific goods, and your buyer may agree to purchase a set amount of goods at this price. If they do not follow through, you have a breach of contract claim.

Finally, if you own rental property, you may have to sue a tenant who refuses to pay rent or damages your property. Evictions are civil cases. As a tenant, you may sue for the return of your security deposit.

If you have experienced personal, property or monetary injury as a result of someone else’s actions, consult a reputable civil attorney to determine your next step.