litigate
Fight in court
To litigate is to take a legal dispute through the court system.
Lawyers litigate cases; parties litigate claims.
The word covers the entire process—filing, arguing, presenting evidence, awaiting judgment: They decided to litigate rather than settle.
Litigation is the noun; a litigant is someone involved in a lawsuit.
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
- damagesCompensation for injury
tort · negligence · breach · liability · settlement · counterclaim · allegation · grievance
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- defenseProtection against harm
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
defendant · solicitor · barrister · advocate · pro se · respondent · appellant · petitioner
Judicial examination of claims
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
cross-examination · bench · gavel · docket · evidence · deliberation · objection · ruling
Change in position
- discoveryAct of finding something
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- pleadingsFormal litigation documents
briefs · filing · continuance · summary judgment · pretrial · arraignment · stipulation · interrogatories
Resolved dispute or colony
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
award · decree · out-of-court · plea bargain · dismissal · acquittal · damages awarded · default judgment
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
damages · tort · negligence · breach · liability · settlement · counterclaim · allegation · grievance · class-action
attorney
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- defenseProtection against harm
plaintiff · defendant · solicitor · barrister · advocate · pro se · respondent · appellant · petitioner
trial
Judicial examination of claims
witness · cross-examination · bench · gavel · docket · evidence · deliberation · objection · ruling · judge
motion
Change in position
- discoveryAct of finding something
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
pleadings · briefs · filing · continuance · summary judgment · pretrial · arraignment · stipulation · interrogatories · affidavit
settlement
Resolved dispute or colony
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- verdictOfficial court decision
judgment · award · decree · out-of-court · plea bargain · dismissal · acquittal · damages awarded · default judgment
- criminal litigationLegal action against accused
- divorce litigationLawsuit ending a marriage
- litigation costsMoney spent on lawsuits
- civil litigationNon-criminal court proceedings
- frivolous litigationGroundless legal action
- litigation lawyerCounsel specializing in lawsuits
litigant, litigation, litigator, litigants, litigated, litigations, litigating, litigators, litigable