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 Kentucky, as in the rest of the United States, the majority of civil disputes that lead to litigation are typically resolved through settlements rather than going to trial. This includes a wide range of legal issues such as divorce, child custody, child support, contract disputes, and intellectual property claims. Settlements are often reached through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration, which can be less costly and time-consuming than a trial. Kentucky courts encourage settlement as a way to resolve disputes efficiently and to reduce the burden on the judicial system. While the option for a jury trial is available and is a fundamental right in many cases, it is exercised in only a small fraction of cases due to the advantages of settling out of court.