Frequently Asked Questions
What is CIVIL LAW?
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, governs relationships or disputes between people or organizations where no crime has been committed, but in which monetary compensation may be awarded to the plaintiff.
What is COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE?
Comparative negligence works on a percentage basis to assign a degree of fault for the injuries suffered by a plaintiff and reduce the amount of damages he or she can recover based upon the degree to which his or her own negligence contributed to the injury.
What are COMPENSATORY DAMAGES?
Compensatory damages are a sum of money awarded by a court in a civil case to compensate a person for the particular loss or injury suffered as a result of the negligent or intentional conduct of another.
What is a DEPOSITION?
A deposition is a formal interview conducted under oath and in the presence of a court reporter by the opposing party’s lawyer. Attorneys for both the plaintiff and the defendant are present at the deposition, other parties to the lawsuit may attend, and all statements made during a deposition are admissible in court.
What is DISCOVERY and what is its purpose?
Discovery is the phase of litigation in which both sides provide to or request information from each another in order to “discover” or learn the position taken by each side on a particular legal
issue.
What are INTERROGATORIES?
Interrogatories, or requests for information, are a formal set of written questions by one party to another. The opposing party is required to respond to the questions under oath. The goal of interrogatories is to clarify matters of fact and help to determine what facts will be presented at trial.
What is NEGLIGENCE?
Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances.
What are PUNITIVE DAMAGES?
Punitive, or exemplary, damages are a sum of money awarded by jury to a plaintiff in a civil law case that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. Punitive damages are above and beyond compensatory damages.
What is WRONGFUL DEATH?
Wrongful death is a death that results from a wrongful act or the negligence of another. Wrongful death cases provide legal recourse for a decedent’s family (parent, spouse, children) to be compensated for their loss.