Lawsuit facts for kids
A lawsuit happens when two people or groups ask a court or a judge to help them solve a disagreement. The people or groups involved in a lawsuit are called the parties. Usually, each party has a lawyer who speaks for them in court.
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What is a Lawsuit?
When someone starts a lawsuit, they are "suing" another person or group. The party that starts the lawsuit is called the plaintiff. They are complaining about something the other side has done. The other party is called the defendant because they need to explain or defend their actions.
How a Lawsuit Works
Both sides in a lawsuit will show evidence to prove they are right. This evidence can be documents, photos, or other information. They might also ask witnesses questions. Witnesses are people who saw what happened or know something about the disagreement.
After both parties have presented their evidence and questioned witnesses, the judge or a jury will make a decision. A jury is a group of ordinary citizens who listen to the case and decide what is true.
What Happens After a Decision?
Once a decision is made, the court will take action to help the winning party. For example, the court might order the losing party to pay money to the winner. Or, it might tell the losing party to stop doing something that caused problems for the winner.
Understanding Litigation
The whole process of a lawsuit, from start to finish, is called litigation. The people involved, the plaintiffs and defendants, are known as litigants. The lawyers who represent them are called litigators. Litigation is how disagreements are officially handled in a court of law.
