QST LA 245 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Probate Court, Jury Trial
Document Summary
Litigation: the process of filling claims in court and ultimately going to trial. Alternative dispute resolution: any other formal or informal processes used to settle disputes without resorting to a trial. Us has >50 systems of courts, one nationwide system of federal courts serves the entire country. Trial courts: determine the facts of a particular dispute and apply to those facts the law given by earlier appellate court decisions. Jurisdiction: a court"s power to hear a case. Some courts have limited jurisdiction while others have the power to hear almost any case. Probate court devoted to settling estates of deceased persons. Subject matter jurisdiction: a court has the authority to hear a particular type of case. Personal jurisdiction- legal authority to require the defendant to stand trial, pay judgments, generally exists if: General civil division- may hear virtually any civil lawsuit: for individuals, the defendant is a resident of the state in which a lawsuit is filed.
