What is the burden of proof in civil cases?

In Idaho, the burden of proof in civil cases is the “preponderance of the evidence.” This means that the plaintiff must prove that more likely than not, the defendant is liable or responsible for the damages at issue. In other words, the plaintiff’s evidence in the case must be more convincing than the defendant’s evidence. This is less than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal cases, and is intended to lower the bar for the plaintiff to bring a case forward. The preponderance of the evidence standard is applied to all civil cases. This means that the plaintiff must produce enough evidence to convince the court that more likely than not, the defendant is liable for damages or otherwise responsible for the complaint. Evidence may include witness testimony, documents, and other types of physical or intangible evidence. The burden of proof in civil cases is an important component of the due process and justice systems. By setting the bar lower in civil cases than in criminal cases, civil cases allow individuals to gain some measure of legal recourse against wrongs done to them. Without the burden of proof being set in civil cases, it would be impossible for individuals or entities to seek justice in the eyes of the law.

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