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Civil litigation

compromise and settlement

Most civil disputes in which a lawsuit is filed (civil litigation) are resolved by compromise and voluntary settlement agreements between the parties—whether the disputes involve divorce, child custody, and child support matters, or contracts and intellectual property (patents, copyrights, and trademarks) claims by businesses. Only a small percentage of lawsuits filed in the United States are resolved by jury trials.

In Illinois, as in other states, the majority of civil disputes that lead to litigation are typically settled out of court through compromise and voluntary settlement agreements. This trend holds true across various types of civil cases, including family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and child support, as well as business-related disputes involving contracts and intellectual property rights like patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Settlements are often preferred by parties due to the time, expense, and uncertainty associated with jury trials. Consequently, only a small fraction of civil lawsuits filed actually proceed to a jury trial. The Illinois legal system, through pre-trial conferences, mediation, and other dispute resolution mechanisms, encourages parties to reach a settlement before reaching the trial phase.

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Civil litigation

compromise and settlement

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Illinois State Code

Illinois State Code

Civil litigation

compromise and settlement

Articles