1. Civil Law

2. Two Kinds of Civil Cases • Negligence Suit- filed when someone’s carelessness is the reason for another person to be: injured, killed, or property to be damaged • -Outcome is damages (money)

3. Two Kinds of Civil Cases • Suit in Equity- • no existing law exists to help decide the case • disputes are resolved on the grounds of fairness • injunctions may be used • a judge makes the ruling

4. Types of Civil Cases • Personal Injury- plane crashed, car wrecks • Property- damage to your property • Consumer- legal agreements between buyers and sellers • Housing- agreements between landlords and tenants (renters) • Domestic Relations- family relationships not involving a family death • Probate- how to divide up the property of a deceased person

5. Criminal Law

6. Criminal Law • Criminal law – purpose – to protect society as a whole

7. Criminal Law • What is crime? • Crime – action that is illegal because the government considers it harmful to society

8. Criminal Law • Who determines what is crime? • Nationally – Congress • Statewide – General Assembly • Locally – City Councils and County Commissioners

9. Criminal Law • A collection of laws is called a penal code • each contains different degrees of seriousness for crimes • Example: First degree murder – premeditated • Second degree murder – intent to kill but it is not planned out • Manslaughter – killing someone by accident or without meaning to

10. Two Degrees of Crime • Misdemeanor – crime for which the penalty is less than 1 year in jail • Felony – crime for which the penalty is more than 1 year in jail

11. Penalties • Purpose of penalties: • Punishment • Protection • Deterrence • Rehabilitation