what is a civil trial

A civil trial is a legal proceeding in which two or more parties, usually private citizens or companies, are involved in a dispute over money or some injury to personal rights. Civil cases are not about breaking a criminal law. A civil case begins when a party to a dispute files a complaint with the court and pays a filing fee required by statute. The complaint describes the plaintiffs damages or injury, explains how the defendant caused the harm, shows that the court has jurisdiction, and asks the court to order relief. The parties involved in a civil trial are called litigants, and the attorneys representing them are called litigators. The plaintiff may seek money to compensate for the damages, or may ask the court to order the defendant to stop the conduct that is causing the harm. Civil courts handle a wide variety of cases, including small claims cases, general civil cases, family law cases, and lawsuits involving breach of contract, probate, divorce, negligence, and copyright violations. The decisions in a civil trial are made by a judge or a jury, depending on the case.