| Dismissal of Appeals |
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| Both the plaintiff (the person suing) and the defendant (the person being sued) have a right to appeal to a higher court if they think there was a legal error in the trial. Generally, a notice of appeal has to be filed within 30 days after the trial court enters a judgment in the lawsuit. Most states have a two-tier system for appellate review of a judgment. The federal court system also has two different levels of appellate review. The appeal is first filed in an intermediate appellate state or federal court or court of appeals. After the court of appeals reviews the judgment, a further appeal is possible to a court of last resort, the state supreme court for state court appeals or the Supreme Court of the United States for federal court appeals. More... |
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| State Appellate Courts |
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| Most states have an intermediate level appellate court, which is generally called the court of appeals. State courts of appeals have a panel of judges who review the trial court's decision. The number of judges on the panel varies. The court of appeals determines whether the trial judge followed proper procedure and correctly interpreted and applied the law to the facts of the case.
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| The Jury in a Civil Lawsuit |
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| There is a constitutional right to a jury trial in certain types of civil cases. The jury in a civil lawsuit usually contains 6 to 12 people. More... |
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| Wrongful Death Claims |
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| A wrongful death is a death caused by the negligence or misconduct of a person or company. All states have wrongful death laws that provide compensation to the surviving spouse, minor children, and parents of a deceased adult. Some states permit other relatives to recover compensation if they depended upon the deceased for support or services. In some states, grandparents or members of the extended family can also recover damages for their loss. More... |
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| Prepaid Legal Service Plans |
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| Many middle-income individuals in America need the help of a lawyer but are unable to afford one. Prepaid legal service plans offer affordable legal services to middle-income individuals and families. Prepaid plans emphasize preventive law. By allowing a plan member easy access to an attorney, legal problems can be avoided or resolved quickly. This article explains how prepaid legal service plans work. It also outlines the types of legal services available through such plans. More... |
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