What is Litigation?

Litigation can sound like a scary legal word. But what is it exactly?

Litigation is simply the resolution of disputes through the court system. There are three types of litigation:  civil litigation, criminal litigation and administrative litigation.

Civil Litigation

Civil Litigation matters are what we primarily deal with here at the Law Offices of Sean Chalaki in Dallas. Civil litigation is the resolution of disputes between private parties through the court systems. 

For example, if you are driving down 75 in Dallas and another driver fails to stay in their own lane and hits you causing damage, then you could have a civil litigation case against the driver at fault. Experienced personal injury attorney Sean Chalaki can help you recover damages you’ve lost as a result of the driver’s errors on the road.

The majority of civil cases can be settled out of court, with a strong negotiating attorney. However, there are some cases that do go to trial for resolution, which means the case will enter the civil litigation process. Each state has their own specialized rules of procedure for civil litigation and it is critical you have an experienced attorney to handle all the steps for you. Some of the rules and procedures can be very complex and time-consuming and one missed step could mean your case is thrown out and you get nothing.

Criminal Litigation

Another type of litigation is criminal litigation. This does not involved two private parties, but instead the government prosecutes an action against individuals who have committed crimes against society or broken criminal laws. It is possible that a criminal case can also have a civil litigation aspect to it. For example, the state can hold a criminal accountable for his or her crime through criminal litigation, but the injured party can also file a civil suit in an attempt to recover damages from the person at fault.

A well-known instance of this is the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s. O.J. Simpson was acquitted for the murder of his wife and her friend in criminal litigation, because the jury found there was reasonable doubt to his guilt. However, the families of the victims then sued O.J. Simpson in civil litigation in an attempt to recover damages for losses like pain and suffering. The family won the civil case and the jury in the civil trial awarded the families of the victims millions of dollars. Therefore, even criminal cases can lead to civil litigation. Experienced Dallas attorney Sean Chalaki may be able to help you in your civil case.

Administrative Litigation

The final form of litigation is Administrative Litigation. Administrative litigation involves administrative agencies resolving disputes regarding their administrative rules and regulations. An example would be a worker’s compensation claim. A worker’s compensation claim must first attempt to be resolved through administrative litigation. If the party is not successful, then there could be other options available in civil litigation.

Attorney Assistance

If you have been harmed by another party and believe you might have cause for a civil case, contact experienced personal injury lawyer Sean Chalaki of the Law Office of Sean Chalaki and he will help you navigate through the murky and sometimes confusing waters of litigation and the court system to give you the best chance of recovering compensation for your injuries. Call him toll-free at 1-877-9DFWLAW or 972-793-8500 or find out more on his website at www.DFWLegalAdvice.com .