Jack Gilbert

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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Civil Litigation Medical Malpractice Law Personal Injury Law

What is a plaintiff?

March 26, 2026

A plaintiff is the person or entity that files a lawsuit to seek a legal remedy such as money damages or a court order. In...

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Civil Litigation Criminal Defense Family Law

What is a bench trial?

March 26, 2026

A bench trial is a court trial decided by a judge rather than a jury. It’s common in many civil cases and can also occur...

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Civil Litigation Criminal Defense Personal Injury Litigation

What is a jury trial?

March 26, 2026

A jury trial is a court proceeding where a panel of typically 6–12 citizens decides the facts of a case and, in criminal cases, delivers...

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Appeals & Post-Conviction Relief Criminal Defense Criminal Law

What is an acquittal?

March 26, 2026

An acquittal is a not-guilty verdict, meaning the prosecution failed to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. In most cases, an acquittal ends the...

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