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 Vermont, 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 are less formal and can be more cost-effective than a trial. The parties involved usually find that settling allows for more control over the outcome and can be less time-consuming. Vermont's court system encourages settlement and provides mechanisms such as court-ordered mediation to facilitate this process. Despite the availability of jury trials for civil cases, they are relatively rare, with most parties opting to settle their disputes outside of the courtroom.