What to Expect as a Civil Litigant Going to Trial

What to Expect as a Civil Litigant Going to Trial

Bad things happen, and sometimes, they put people in a position where they have to sue a wrongdoer. The thought of going to trial for civil damages when a person or business entity has harmed you in some way can feel a bit overwhelming for one who has never been through that experience. If you ever find yourself in that position and are wondering what to expect, here are some things to keep in mind.

First and foremost is the jury. The members of your community who have taken an oath to serve in your case are doing a tremendous service for you, their community, and the entire country in adjudging your case in a way that can affect real change. You should expect their treatment to be at the forefront of the proceedings. That means you should expect the Court to allow for morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks and to try and finish each day within ordinary business hours.

If you’re heading to trial, chances are your case is a serious manner deserving of the Court’s precious time. In turn, you should expect the process to be deserving of your utmost respect. You should expect to dress up for court and be polite to all involved.

You should expect to come to court every day of your trial engaged and prepared to tell your story. You should expect to be asked tough questions about your story and your evidence. You should expect to see yourself and your story painted in its most unfavorable light. But where your cause is just, you should also come to win. So you should expect that you will have your day in Court, to tell your story to your fellow community members and ask them to make it right.