Civil court cases are the umbrella term given for a whole host of legal issues that would otherwise not meet or exceed the stipulations for criminality. Instead, they are often small scale disputes centring around money, employment contracts and property law. In this post, we highlight some of the most common types of civil court cases and why they may occur.
Property Disputes
Property disputes often involve a disagreement between a neighbour and are handled by civil litigation lawyers. Common disputes typically include the breach of the property line, where one party has alleged the other has stepped onto their property without the necessary permissions for building works or planting. In essence, civil court cases are designed to cover legal issues that are not covered by criminal law, with property boundary disputes particularly high on this list.
Contract Disputes
Contract disputes typically occur when there is a disagreement between two parties over an already agreed term of the contract. The reasons for contract disputes, therefore, are highly varied, depending on the industry or requirement, but will often relate to a person’s failure to perform a specific or range of services that they have already promised and agreed prior. A breach of contract can, of course, work both ways; and may in fact be related to an issue with payment from the other party once work has been completed.
Torts
A tort, sometimes referred to as a “tortious act”, is a wrongful act against another person, (other than a breach of contract), that results in an injury or damage to a person, their property or reputation. Personal injury cases, battery, negligence, defamation, fraud and medical malpractice are all common examples of tort claims. A civil case that can relate to personal safety, property security and financial stability, tort cases regularly occur when an individual is handed a duty of care and fails to carry out their assigned role.
Class Action Cases
Similar to tort cases, only on a larger scale, class action cases will instead involve a group of persons who are all claiming the same injury or impact, instead of focusing purely on an individual. Class action cases are more likely to feature in factories, warehouses and areas with large workforces and considerable hazards, such as water, toxic chemicals or machinery.
Landlord/Tenant Dispute
Landlord/tenant disputes feature prominently in civil court cases and are not similar to contract or property disputes, often relating to finance, such as unpaid rent or deposits. However, they can also involve eviction disputes or even tenants who may have sued their landlords for unreasonable or unsafe living conditions.
Seeking civil litigation? At DJP Solicitors, we offer professional advice on legal matters regarding civil court cases. Our litigation lawyers can assess your situation and guide you through the process of navigating a civil case. We specialise in contract disputes, injunctions or interdicts and much more. Get in touch today.
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