Civil
Law
-Both
parties may be anybody, including governments, corporations and
individuals.
-The
loser in a civil case cannot be imprisoned, even if he or she cannot
pay the damages.
-Civil
law is established both through state statutes and through court
decisions.
-In
Missouri, the jury decision must be 9-3 for the plaintiff to win. States vary. ----Federal courts do
require an unanimous verdict.
-The
burden of proof in a civil trial is “preponderance of the
evidence,” which sometimes is defined as “more
likely than not.”
-Either
party may appeal in a civil case.
-In
a civil case, the plaintiff and the defendant may both be found
partially right and partially at fault.
