What is the judgment/verdict stage of civil procedure?

The judgment/verdict stage of civil procedure is the last major step in the lawsuit process. This stage is reached when both parties have presented their evidence and arguments in court and the jury has rendered a verdict. In Massachusetts, a jury’s role in a civil trial is to decide the facts of the case and answer the jury instructions provided by the Judge. The jury must come to a unanimous decision. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, then the case is considered a mistrial. However, the jury may also decide in favor of one party. Once the jury has made its decision, the verdict is given to the Judge. The Judge can choose to accept or reject the jury’s verdict. If the Judge accepts the verdict, the ruling is final and the case is over. If the judge rejects the verdict, the case will start over with another jury trial. The verdict of a civil trial is the most important outcome. Depending on the case, the verdict will award money damages to the winning party or determine who must do what. The outcome may also determine who is responsible for certain actions. Most importantly, the outcome sets a precedent for future cases and establishes the law of the land.

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What is the judgment/verdict stage of civil procedure?

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