OJ Simpson

Back in 1994, OJ Simpson was accused of murdering Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman outside of Goldman’s condominium home. The murder trial was considered to be one of the most prolific in modern history and had the nation captivated every night as they received updates from the proceedings every night on their local and national news. They deemed it the “trial of the century”. OJ Simpson hired a team of high-profile lawyers, including Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey. Simpson’s lawyers were successful in giving the jurors reasonable doubt that he was responsible for their murders. As a result, his lawyers were successful in helping Simpson be found not guilty of the murders.

Following the not guilty verdict, Simpson was slapped with a civil law case. The civil law case stated that he was responsible for the wrongful death of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. He was found guilty and he was forced to make payments to his children and the Goldman family.

1. The criminal case details:

Simpson spared no expense when hiring his group of lawyers to represent him in the criminal case, as the costs exceeded about three million dollars. Simpson’s lawyers included a team that was highly trained in DNA evidence presented in courts. These lawyers’ job was to find a way to discredit the DNA evidence that was presented and demonstrated by the prosecutors. The lawyers’ main claim was that the police handled the evidence in a sloppy manner and thus the evidence should be considered invalid.

Simpson’s lawyers also presented evidence that the police that handled the crime scene planted evidence that led to the conviction of OJ Simpson. There was a lot of conclusive evidence to support this claim, leading Simpson and his team of lawyers to a victorious not guilty verdict.

2. The civil law case:

There was a great deal of aftermath and fallout that occurred, however, following the criminal trial. A civil law case was immediately brought upon Simpson by the parent’s of Ron Goldman, Fred Goldman and Sharon Rufo. The civil law case was presented for wrongful death of Nicole and Ron and took about four months to complete. Daniel Petrocelli was the lawyer for Goldman and Bob baker was the lawyer that represented OJ Simpson. Evidence was brought upon Simpson by Goldman’s lawyers, such as the polygraph test the Simpson failed conducted the Los Angeles Police Department. Eventually, the jury in the civil law case against Simpson awarded the Goldman family and Simpson’s children, Sydney and Justin, $12.5 million.

3. The aftermath:

OJ Simpson came under a lot of criticism following the criminal and civil law case. For instance, OJ Simpson was accused of dodging the payment of the civil law verdict of $12.5 million. Also, after the civil law case had been completed, Simpson vowed to help find the “real killers” of Nicole Simpson and Ron Brown. Simpson has since showed little interest in finding the real murders or proof that he ever took any steps to do so.

Court

Lawsuits, a civil law action brought before a court to resolve complaints of one party about another party, are handled in a variety of ways. Depending on the lawsuit, a case may be brought before municipal, county, state, or federal civil law courts. In civil law, there is a plaintiff (the person making a claim) and a defendant (the person defending him or herself from the claim). A lawsuit is a complaint that is filed by a plaintiff and his or her lawyer. A defendant may have to hire a lawyer also, depending on the severity of the claim. Usually, this party asks for a certain sum of money owed by the defendant, equal to the costs of damages sustained by the plaintiff. There are also other stipulations of a claim that the defendant will be forced to carry out, such as returning property, or carrying out a certain action. After the plaintiff states his or her case, the defendant gives reasons as to why he or she is not liable to comply with what is claimed to be owed by the defendant.

1. Fundamentals of a lawsuit:

A lawsuit is a document that relates to civil law and civil courts. It is a document that is formally written by a lawyer and/or a plaintiff that is sent to the defendant to state claims relating to the dispute. For example, if a vinyl siding company performs a job on a house that is not up to par to the quality terms set forth in their contract, the owner of the house has the right to file a lawsuit with his or her lawyer if the company refuses to fix the problem. The lawyer ensures that the claim by the house owner (the plaintiff) is valid and the lawyer then sends it to the company (the defendant).

Lawsuits in civil law can make claims about contractual disputes, child custody, property theft, property damage, or injuries caused by the defendant’s negligence. When a plaintiff makes a civil law claim about money owed by the defendant, the sum of money is almost always based off tangible evidence. This can include medical bills, repair bills, and work documents pertaining to forced absence of work.

2. Civil Law Court proceedings:

Civil law procedures are based in the common law adversarial system of dispute resolution. Based on the nature of the civil law case, additional rules and guidelines may be given explaining the rights and options the plaintiffs, defendants, and their lawyers may have. These guidelines will help the ease and flow of the civil law trial and ensure that the case is resolved in a reasonable amount of time. If these rules are not complied with by either parties or lawyers, then there is always the likelihood that the judge will throw out the case.

In civil law court, a judge or jury will make a decision of either awarding all of the monetary damages claimed by the plaintiff and his lawyer, a certain portion of the claim, or none of it at all, resulting in a victory for the defendant. A judge may also enforce additional actions that the plaintiff or defendant will be required to perform. A judge may find that the plaintiff is actually liable of monetary expenses, especially if a defendant counter-sues the plaintiff for a valid reason.

Lawsuit

Civil law is different then criminal law. It is when two parties, the plaintiff and the defendant dispute a disagreement and have it resolved in either municipal, county, state, or federal civil court. A plaintiff is the person that files a claim with his or her attorney, and the defendant is the party in question that is being sued. The defendant also has the right to hire an attorney in the civil law case. If the civil law case is severe in nature, it is in the defendant’s best interest to hire an attorney to represent him, her, or the party.

Depending on what the civil law claim pertains to, some rules and regulations differ from case to case. But generally, a civil law case has several key steps from the start of the civil law trial to the point when a verdict is reached.

1. Civil law pleading:

The first step of a lawsuit is for the plaintiff to file a claim with a court that states that the plaintiff and his or her attorney are seeking monetary relief from damages caused by the defendant. After paperwork for the claim is approved and filed, a court clerk will than hands a signed summons document to the plaintiff to be served to the defendant. The defendant, in some instances, has the option to give a response to the claim, either admitting the wrongdoing or denying the wrongdoing. He or she can also file a dispute to the claim to have the allegations placed on him or her dismissed. A defendant will also choose whether or not hiring an attorney is necessary.

2. Evidence Disclosure before the civil law trial:

During the pre-trial stages of a lawsuit, evidence is gathered by both the plaintiff, defendant, and their attorneys. Also, it is important for both parties to come up with proper statements for the civil case to help further their chance of winning the case.

After all evidence is gathered, it is then disclosed to each party through a process called “discovery”. The reason for discovery in civil law cases is to prevent surprise elements of evidence showing up in a civil law trial. Another major reason for discovery is to bring to light any evidence that either the plaintiff or defendant were unaware of that could affect the validity of the lawsuit. If a plaintiff receives evidence that disproves their lawsuit to be true, he or she may be advised by his or her attorney to drop the lawsuit to save time and money because it will not turn out in his or her favor.

3. The civil trial and verdict:

Civil attorneys on both sides of the dispute assist them in presenting evidence and statements before a judge or jury. After hearing both sides of an argument, a verdict is reached that either favors the plaintiff, defendant, or neither party at all (usually happening when a case is thrown out).

4. The right for a party and attorney to appeal in a civil law case:

After a decision is made by a judge or jury, either party can dispute the verdict. Even the victorious party can dispute the rewards that are given to them if they feel they do not satisfy them.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Before understanding the significance of many civil law cases that have been conducted over the years that have paved way for furthering the progress of civil law rights for many people, one must understand what civil rights and civil laws are.

Civil law is a justice that is the practice of dealing with disputes between individuals, organizations, or groups of people. Rewards for winning a claim are usually monetary in nature no matter what the dispute is. Modern civil law is an evolved form of Roman law. Judges usually base their decisions in civil law cases on civil law cases their were determined in the past. This not only makes civil law trials easier to judge and an overall smooth process, but also ensures that decisions are made properly with the application of code of ethics enforced by common law.

1. Consolidated cases of the Civil Rights Movement:

The Civil Rights Movement was a monumental period, not only in the United States, but all parts of the world. It lasted from about 1950 to 1980. It was a movement for the equal rights of all human beings, regardless of face, creed, or practice of religion. The major issue in the Civil Rights Movement was the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

During this time, there were five major civil law cases presented to federal court pertaining to the African-American Civil Rights Movement and they were all consolidated into one issue. The disputes claimed that African Americans were refused service in “white only” facilities. The ruling of the court in this civil laws case in favor of the plaintiff helped the Civil Rights Movement take a large leap forward.

2. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Civil law case of 1954:

This trial was a landmark civil laws decision that reached a conclusion that public schools that separated white and black children gave black children inferior educations and opportunities. This was a monumental decision because it helped initiate the African Civil Rights Movement and gave African Americans hope that progress can be made for the betterment of their future.

A class action suit was filed against the board of education in Topeka, Kansas by the parents of twenty children, and called for a change in the process of school education segregation. The named plaintiff was Oliver L. Brown, an African American welder who worked with the Santa Fe Railroad. The District Court ruled in favor of the Board of Education, summarizing that “separate but equal” laws enforced within Kansas insured that education for both white and black students, while separate, were indeed comparable. Even with the outcome, many local schools began to desegregate as the civil rights movement picked up steam.

3. Plessy v. Ferguson, Civil laws case of 1896:

This landmark civil case helped to enforce the merit of racial segregation within the United States between whites and blacks. After the establishment of slavery, many black citizens began to take up ordinary jobs and integrated themselves into the white community. The case of Plessy v. Ferguson, Homer Plessy, a man that was seven-eighths white and only one-eighth black, refused to move to a colored car after he had boarded a train in Louisiana. He was later jailed and tried in a civil laws case.

Plessy’s argument was finally rejected by court and that the segregation of races was an integral part of “public policy”.

Civil law

The idea of civil law is the process by which non-criminal disagreements between one person, organization, or party and another person, organization, or party are resolved. This usually involves a plaintiff, the person or party who is complaining about the dispute, and the defendant, the person or party who is defending themselves from the accusations. Problems within the civil law court are solved peacefully. When a civil law case is solved, if they plaintiff wins, the person or party is given a sum of monetary rewards from the defendant. If the defendant wins, the person or party is cleared from giving monetary damages.

1. What is involved in civil law?

Most civil cases are small in nature and no lawyers are needed to be hired by either the plaintiff or defendant. Lawyers are sometimes hired however, when the claim by the plaintiff is an extremely large sum of money. In these sensitive civil law cases, a defendant would always wants to hire a lawyer or team of lawyers to defend him or her. A lawyer will cost money to the defendant, but at least if they succeed in clearing themselves, they will not have to pay the amount of money demanded by the plaintiff.

Some rulings in civil law cases create new laws that are governed by state or local officials. If there is a law already in existence based on the civil law claim, then based on what that civil law states, a ruling is given by a judge in court.

Different topics of debate in civil law court are non-criminal in nature. There different topics include meanings and breaches of contract, property disputes, divorce, child custody, and property vandalism. Lawyers are usually hired who specialize in a specific area of expertise in these different subjects. Hiring lawyers that have experience in contractual disputes would not be a good idea in a child custody case.

2. Types of Civil Law Cases

Family law: Lawyers help plaintiffs and defendants with child disputes in this situation, or perhaps marriage prenuptial agreements and divorce settlements. Lawyers defend each member, for example in a child custody dispute. The mother and father present evidence on why they would be a better primary parent to raise the child.

Employment Law: Lawyers defend their clients if an employee sues an employer over payroll disputes, or wrongful termination on issues based on race or beliefs. For example, a black worker could be fired for no significant reason and he or she could hire a lawyer if he or she believes it is a racial issue that should be addressed. If the plaintiff wins, he will receive monetary damages due to unemployment.

Consumer Law: Civil law where lawyers defend clients over consumer purchases that may have resulted in injury, death, or sickness. Sometimes, a company may let a baby product to be released which should have been recalled because of a defect. These products could be extremely dangerous for the child to use. In this case, a civil dispute can arise after a baby is injured or dies.

Civil Attorney

If you are thinking about becoming an attorney, you may want to consider the hard work and dedication that it involves. Aside from graduating high school and completing a four year college, you must also apply for law school. It is no secret that being accepted into law school takes hard work and dedication in itself, but once you get in, you will also need to work extra hard to stay in. It requires a lot of general knowledge of terminology, procedures, and communication skills.

Once you are decided that you would like to dedicate your hard work to becoming a attorney, you may want to consider the types of attorneys and what they specialize in. An attorney that defends people who are accused of crimes is one option, but there are also civil attorneys. Civil attorneys are more common and deal with helping people receive compensation through monetary damages that may have been inflicted to them by their employer, friend, or family. If you think that becoming a civil lawyer is right for you, you should understand what is involved in the process of studying to become one.

1. Attend a four year degree program at a college when preparing to become a civil attorney:

It is important that you receive your undergraduate degree at a college of your choosing. The major that you choose can usually be whatever you would like, but understand that there are certain ones that would look better to law schools or be more effective in giving you the skills you need to prepare for law school. Majors such as English will help with communication and writing skills. Foreign languages would help you in international law or helping others that do not speak English. No matter what major you decide, you can also take additional courses that will give you a variety of skills required to becoming a civil attorney.

2. Applying to law school to become a civil attorney

Prospective attorneys seeking acceptance at a law school know that it is easier said than done. There is a lot of preparation that goes into becoming an attorney. Aside from internships that will help you gain some valuable experience in civil attorney law, you will also have to study to pass the Law School Admission Test. Even after a prospective civil attorney passes this test, the law school also accounts for the quality of the college they attended, previous law experience, grades, and interviews that the applicant goes on.

3. Prospective civil attorneys should focus on core attorney courses first and foremost:

Before studying the fundamentals of civil attorney law, one should dedicate the first two years of their study to the core fundamentals of attorney law (property law, constitutional law, and legal writing). Then, the remaining time should be used to study the specialization of civil attorney law that one is most interested in (including civil procedures).

4. State Bar Exam to become a civil attorney:

All prospective civil attorneys take the BAR exam after their graduate program ends. After passing the BAR exam, one can seek employment in the field.

Civil Lawyers

A Civil lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in the practice of civil law and has a great deal of knowledge of the field itself. A civil lawyer is one that is used the most in court cases as there are a lot of civil cases being done every day in which a civil lawyer must be involved with; more so than criminal cases. The civil lawyer represents one person against another in a case usually involving monetary gains for someone who has been affected financially by another person or party. Civil lawyers, unlike most other lawyers, do not usually get involved with criminal disputes.

1. History of civil law and lawyers:

The oldest surviving code of civil law is the Code of Ur-Nammu, which was written in Sumeria between 2100 and 2050 B.C. This law usually involved the notion of “eye for an eye”, meaning that if a wrongdoing is put onto one person by another, he or she may sue with a civil lawyer in order to gain monetary damages from the defendant, usually from financial loss, medical bills, and even emotional distress. The United States has adopted many ideals in the Ur-Nammu, but because of the United States constitution, a lot of older ideals have been ignored (such as the notion that all people have the right, no matter what creed, race, religion, or beliefs can sue).

2. Sub specializations of civil lawyers:

There are many sub specializations that civil lawyers may choose to be better suited for, depending on what the case is. People who are suing or being sued by another party should consider which lawyer to select based on their best knowledge of the case at hand. Research about the civil lawyers and questions should be asked to determine what the lawyer is best at and what the lawyer’s knowledge extends to.

Different civil lawyer sub specializations include contract law, lawyers who handle cases involving a breach of contract; family law, lawyers who help clients settle marriages, child custody battles, and divorces; and tort law, when lawyers help people determine how liable one is for injury to another person. The latter specialization of civil lawyers is a very complicated field and usually very hard to defend and pursue. Contract law is where a lot of lawyers specialize in because it earns them a lot of money.

3. Civil lawyers in the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a cause that was fueled by the belief that everyone has equal rights no matter what religion or r ace they belonged to. This movement was stemmed from the basic beliefs of civil laws. Civil lawyers such as William Kunstler and Ron Kuby fought battles that were won in court to help make the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a reality.

4. The prospects of becoming a civil rights lawyer

The need for lawyers will continue to rise, whether the economy is good or bad. Civil Lawyers specializing in contract law will be especially needed in a bad economy as many contractual disputes from employee and employer relationships could arise.

Civil Law Trial

There are many things you should know about civil law trials if you are forced to have to defend yourself in one. Many civil trials are small claims civil law trials, and a civil lawyer would not be hired. In these small claims civil law trials, it is most of the time not allowed for a civil lawyer to be hired and the actually parties within the dispute are required to represent themselves. You should consider all possibilities however, no matter how big or small the civil law case may be.

1. Legal consultation from a civil lawyer:

Most people are clueless when it comes to how the legal and judicial system works. It is not uncommon for people to consult a civil lawyer when faced with a civil law case, no matter how small the claim may be. It is perfectly fine to set up an appointment with a civil lawyer and receive consultation from him or her. The knowledge that you will receive from a civil lawyer will allow yourself to be better fitted to present your accusation or defense. Take notes when you visit your civil lawyer and do not hesitate to visit other civil lawyers if one does not put you at ease or if you are seeking a second opinion.

2. Learn how a civil law case proceeds:

Remember that there are such options during the course of a civil law case that you can use if you believe that the situation calls for it. This includes the right to due process and the right to appeal a decision. If you feel that the trial was conducted unfairly, such as not allowing all evidence to be presented or you were mistreated, or you believe that the judge ruled a verdict that was not supportive of your evidence, you can appeal the civil law verdict.

3. Understand what the lawsuit demands in detail:

When you receive the written statement about the impending civil law trial, make sure that you look over every detail about what is wanted by the plaintiff. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to ask your civil lawyer. Do not leave any question you have unanswered, no matter how small it is.

4. Gather, search for, and prepare all evidence:

Once again, consult your civil lawyer to find out what evidence may or may not be useful or relevant in the civil law case. Evidence would have to be concrete and prove that any or all of the claims presented against you are false. If you are thought to have violated a contract for instance, make sure that you and your civil lawyer come up with hard evidence that the terms of the contract were not breached.

5. Outline your argument for your defense:

You should organize your statements and evidence accordingly that will make sense when you present your case in civil law court. Just like playing a game of chess, try to come up with possible retorts your accuser may come up with when you present your case and be prepared to react to them to further benefit you.

Domestic Violence

Domestic disputes can be a very serious concern for the victims of it. These disputes can escalate to physical violence, causes pain and emotional suffering. Domestic abuse can fall under the umbrella of civil law and criminal law, but there are a number of ways it is handled differently in each. One must first understand the differences between civil law and criminal law, as the case will and consequences will be handled differently in each. Then, he or she must hire a civil attorney, and with that civil attorney prepare the proper evidence that the civil law was violated.

1. Understand the difference between civil law and criminal law before hiring a civil attorney:

One must first understand that in a civil law case, a person may prosecute another person in a domestic violence case directly through the civil law courts. In contrast, criminal law is designed so that a defendant is prosecuted by the courts for endangering the well being of society as a whole entity. The defendant will be tried and punished if convicted, while in a civil law case, the plaintiff can seek monetary damages if they are able to win the case in a court of law.

The first thing you should consider is whether or not the suffering that you have been through has caused you a great deal of monetary loss. Be prepared to prove how you have been effected by the domestic financially through evidence and testimony from witnesses. You can do this through written documents and medical bills if possible.

Remember that in almost all civic law cases, a judge determines whether or not your claim is valid. Gear your cases and arguments with the judge in mind so that you can better your chances of winning the money that is owed to you.

Also, keep in mind that civic law cases are more easily won than criminal law cases. Criminal cases are more focused detailed. A defendant must be proven “beyond a shadow of a doubt” that he or she is guilty for the plaintiff to win. A civil law case just needs valid evidence that supports your claim and the judge will make a judgment based on whether or not he or she believes you are truthful.

2. Hiring a civil attorney:

Once you understand what is involved in a civil case, you may want to set forth with your civil law case. If you believe that you will need help, you may want to consider hiring a civil attorney with a lot of experience in civil law. Your civic attorney should have many years of expertise of handling cases, specifically domestic abuse cases. The most focused in domestic violence your civil attorney is, the better chance you have at reaching the verdict you are looking for.

3. Prosecution in your civil law case with your civil attorney:

Not only should you disclose evidence to your civil attorney based on the proof of monetary losses, but also provide the civil attorney with proof that the person in question was responsible. Also, consult with your civil attorney about the civil laws as they may be different from state to state. There are many organizations for women’s right that can help a great deal in deciding whether a civil law was violated or not.

Criminal Law

Civil law and criminal, though holding many similarities between each other such as court principles, but there also many ways in which they vary from each other, such as specific procedures before and during a trial and how a civil case origins compared to a criminal case.

Origins of civil law cases and criminal law cases

A civil law case is usually brought upon a court when one person, company, or entity files a lawsuit against another person, company, or entity. A civil law case differs from a criminal law case because a criminal case originates when a person is arrested and charged with the act of carrying out an illegal crime. The law that these crimes are created and enforced by are municipality, county, state, and federal governments. In a civil law case, a law has not necessarily been broken, but rather a party or individual was wronged by the action of another party or individual.

1. The role of evidence in civil law and criminal law cases:

In both civil law and criminal law, evidence is handled and viewed differently from each other. In a civil law case, evidence is presented to the judge and a verdict is eventually reached by what the evidence presented by the plaintiff conveys. By contrast, a criminal law case is different because evidence must prove to the judge or jury beyond a reasonable doubt that no other person besides the defendant could have committed the crime in question. These rules are set into place because criminal law cases are a lot more serious and have harsher penalties.

2. The difference in punishment between civil and criminal law cases:

Almost all civil law cases are based on how much money the plaintiff will receive if that party wins the case. If one party has inflicted damage upon another party’s property, the cost of that damage will usually be the verdict if the plaintiff wins. Also in many civil law cases, one party may sue another because of emotional or physical damages inflicted by the defendant, losses in wage, or medical bills. The final monetary value set on the verdict is usually determined and/or altered by the judge.

Criminal law cases, on the other hand, do indeed include monetary damages that the defendant must pay, but it is usually followed up by court punishment, including incarceration, house arrest, or probation. When probation is handed out to a defendant, it is a time period in which the defendant is not incarcerated, but he or she must follow a set of rules. When these rules are broken, the person may be sent to jail or fined.

3. Roles of the parties involved in civil law and criminal law cases:

In a civil law case, the plaintiff is the person or party that is bringing on the case upon the defendant, who is the party that is accused. In a criminal law case, the plaintiff party is a group of prosecutors assigned by the local, state, or federal government that tries the criminal in question. The criminal in question in a criminal law case is the defendant.