Civil litigation is the process of dispute resolution between members of a community through the court system. Civil law grants to individuals the right to sue for compensation or for specific action in matters such as breach of contract, defamation and negligence.
When can I sue someone?
If you feel that you’ve been wronged but it’s not a criminal matter to be dealt with by the police then you may be able to commence legal proceedings against someone. The kinds of disputes that are dealt with under civil law include disputes between:-
- Neighbours
- Customers and suppliers
- Business partners
- Landlords and tenants
- Buyers and sellers of property
- Home owners and builders
Different kinds of legal cases have different time limitations imposed so it’s important that you seek legal advice quickly to find out if you can commence legal proceedings.
The civil litigation process
Prior to court proceedings being commenced, the first course of action is always to seek a resolution to the dispute, saving both time and money. There are a number of alternative dispute resolution methods which can be used including round table negotiation, conflict mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. Dispute resolution lawyers can assist with this process. It is important to note that if you fail to attempt to settle the dispute before issuing court proceedings you are likely to face a costs penalty as litigation should always be a last resort.
There are various protocols and procedures in place for different types of dispute such as debt recovery, professional negligence, consumer credit.
We can advise you of the steps you need to comply with the protocols to avoid potentially expensive sanctions imposed by the court.