Case

A legal case is a dispute among parties that is taken to a court (or through another legal process) for a judge, lawyers, and a jury to decide on a resolution for, using legislation to ascertain who or what is in the wrong. Legal cases may either be civil (relating to business and finance disputes) or criminal (where a person or organisation is accused of a criminal offence). Before a civil case reaches court, the aggrieved party will usually seek legal advice from a lawyer or solicitor to find out if their case is worth pursuing or if they are likely to win damages after a court hearing. In most criminal cases, victims will report an offence to the police who then try to locate the accused for questioning. If an arrest is made, the accused will be called to court and asked whether they plead guilty or not guilty. If they are found to have broken the law, they may face a prison sentence.