General Litigation
| Federal Court System Overview |
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| The federal court system consists of federal trial courts and two levels of federal appellate courts--courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. More... |
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| Interpreters in the Courtroom |
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| The judge has discretion in deciding whether to appoint a court interpreter. If appointed, the interpreter is considered an officer of the court, subject to certain ethical duties relating to the interpreter's conduct. A court interpreter's job is to translate accurately for a litigant (a party to a court proceeding) everything that occurs in the proceeding. Court interpreters also make it possible to take evidence from a non-English speaking witness.
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| Standards for Admitting Expert Testimony |
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| In 1993, the United States Supreme Court established standards for admitting expert testimony when it decided Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals. The Court held that for scientific evidence to be reliable, it has to be based on scientific validity. To be admissible at trial, a scientific theory has to have been tested and subjected to peer review and publication. The rate of error has to be shown, and there must be standards controlling any research on the theory. Finally, the theory has to be generally accepted in the scientific community. More... |
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| Dismissals and Reinstatements of Civil Lawsuits |
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| The law allows the plaintiff (the person suing) to dismiss his/her lawsuit after it has been filed. In addition, the court has authority to order dismissal of a lawsuit under certain circumstances. This article discusses voluntary dismissals by the plaintiff, involuntary dismissals by the court, and the circumstances under which a lawsuit can be reinstated. More... |
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| The Effect of a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit |
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| When a court of competent jurisdiction renders a final judgment on the merits of a case, the judgment is conclusive between the parties as to the claims, facts, and issues litigated in the case. More... |
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