Lawsuits

-Lawsuits are when one person sues another for damages

-Property Disputes

-Contract Issues

-Divorce

-Negligence-- Term explaining the idea that an accident was caused by the careless actions of another person

-Personal Injury

Suits of Equity

-Another type of Civil Law

-Suits of Equity ask the court to make a decision based on fairness in an area where there is no law

-Usually started to prevent some action from taking place

(tear down a park to replace with office)

-Injunctions—a court order to do or not do something

Result of a Suit of Equity

Civil Court Procedure

-Can take years to settle in court because of so many cases

-Adversarial Nature

**two sides use attorneys, judge makes sure procedure is followed

Steps:

-File a Complaint

-Summons is issued

-Attorney’s exchange pleadings

-Court presentations

-Judge or jury deliberate

-Verdict is issued

Criminal Cases

-Criminal Case

-law that deal with cases involving violations of criminal code

-Penal Code

set of written laws and punishments designed by each state and the federal government to describe crimes

Types of Criminal Cases

-Misdemeanors: Minor

crime

-Felonies: Major Crime

-Crimes against Property

Larceny, Burglary, Robbery

Vandalism, Fraud, Embezzlement

-Crimes against People

Murder

Manslaughter

Rape

Kidnapping

Assault

Types of Criminal Cases

-Misdemeanors

-Felonies

-Crimes against Property

Larceny, Burglary, Robbery

Vandalism, Fraud, Embezzlement

-Crimes against People

Murder

Manslaughter

Rape

Kidnapping

Assault

Criminal Penalties

-Penalties vary according to the seriousness of the crime committed

-Crime against people will carry greater punishments

-Role of Punishment

-rehabilitation, deterrence

-Indeterminate Sentencing

-Judge gives a range of sentences

-Mandatory Sentencing: Minimum sentence that must be placed on someone who has broken the law

-3 strike laws: any 3 felonies means mandatory life sentence

Important Vocabulary Retribution: long prison sentences, the death

penalty, unfavorable conditions in prison Rehabilitation: transforming criminals in to law

abiding citizens Deterrence: preventing future crimes (death

penalty could be considered deterrence) Recidivism: tendency to repeat or relapse to a

life of crime Restitution: giving or getting back money or

property lost as a result of a crime (monetary compensation)

Parole: early release from prison for good behavior. MAINLY USED TO KEEP FROM OVERCROWDING OF PRISONS