Jack Gilbert

Civil Litigation Employment Law Personal Injury Law

What is a deposition?

March 26, 2026

A deposition is sworn, out-of-court testimony taken under oath and recorded—usually by a court reporter—to gather evidence before trial. Attorneys for both sides ask questions,...

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Civil Litigation Consumer Protection Law Employment Law

What is a complaint?

March 26, 2026

A complaint is the legal document that starts a civil lawsuit by stating the plaintiff’s claims and the relief sought. It’s filed in the appropriate...

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Civil Litigation Criminal Defense Debt Collection

What is a summons?

March 26, 2026

A summons is a court-issued legal notice that tells you you’re being sued or charged and sets a deadline to respond or appear. It typically...

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Communications & Telecommunications Law Intellectual Property Law Media & Entertainment Law

What is an answer?

March 26, 2026

An “answer” is the defendant’s written response to a civil complaint, typically due within 20–30 days after service (often 21 days in federal court). It...

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Business Litigation Civil Litigation Real Estate Litigation

What is a counterclaim?

March 26, 2026

A counterclaim is a claim the defendant files against the plaintiff in the same lawsuit, seeking relief such as money damages or an injunction. It...

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Civil Litigation Criminal Defense Personal Injury Defense

What is a defendant?

March 26, 2026

A defendant is the person or entity accused of wrongdoing in a criminal case or sued in a civil lawsuit. Defendants can be individuals, businesses,...

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Administrative Law Civil Litigation Constitutional Law

What is standing?

March 26, 2026

Standing is the legal requirement that you have a sufficient personal stake in a dispute—typically a concrete injury caused by the defendant that a court...

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Administrative Law Civil Rights Law Constitutional Law

What is jurisdiction?

March 26, 2026

Jurisdiction is a court’s legal authority to hear a case and issue binding decisions over the people involved and the subject matter. In the U.S.,...

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Civil Litigation Criminal Defense Real Estate Litigation

What is venue?

March 26, 2026

Venue is the legally proper location—usually a specific county or federal district—where a lawsuit must be filed and heard. Courts determine venue based on factors...

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Criminal Defense Federal Criminal Defense Sentencing & Appeals

What is mandatory minimum sentencing?

March 26, 2026

Mandatory minimum sentencing is a law that requires judges to impose at least a fixed minimum prison term (or other penalty) for certain crimes. It...

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Criminal Appeals Criminal Defense Sentencing Law

What is three strikes law?

March 26, 2026

Three strikes laws impose a mandatory long prison sentence—often 25 years to life—after a third qualifying felony conviction. Enacted in many states in the 1990s,...

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Business Litigation Civil Litigation Personal Injury Law

What is a civil lawsuit?

March 26, 2026

A civil lawsuit is a legal case where one party sues another for compensation or a court order, not criminal punishment. Most civil claims are...

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