Civil law is a body of rules that delineate private rights and remedies and govern disputes between individuals in such areas as contracts, property, and Family Law. These rules are distinct from criminal or public law.
Civil law, or civilian law, as a legal system, originated in Europe. It was intellectualized within the framework of Roman law. Its main feature is that its core principles are codified into a referable system serving as the primary source of law.
The primary difference between civil litigation and criminal cases is that one or both of the parties is seeking money or another form of compensation, rather than criminal charges. In general, the prosecution in criminal cases represents the state in which the trial is taking place. Conversely, in civil cases both parties are directly involved and usually are each represented by legal counsel. Five common types of civil cases are: (1) Contract Disputes; (2) Property Disputes; (3) Torts; (4) Class Actions; and (5) Complaints against the government. There are numerous other types of civil cases. Sometimes a civil case will follow a criminal case that has had an unfavorable outcome for the prosecution.
If you think you have grounds for a case or have questions regarding litigation, or business or employment law, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Tishkoff. The attorneys at Tishkoff, located in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, may be reached by phone or email.