Law for Business Mr. Bernstein Dispute Resolution and the Court System, pp October 6, 2014

Law for Business Mr. Bernstein Resolving Disputes Without Litigation Mediation Advises, Non-Binding May Be Required By Contract Arbitration Binding Also May Be Required By Contract 2

Law for Business Mr. Bernstein Different Levels of Courts Court: Governmental forum that administers justice under the law; may award damages or impose injunctions in civil cases or impose punishment in criminal cases Trial Court: First court to hear a dispute Appellate Court: Reviews decisions of lower courts to determine if errors were made in first trial; does not review facts 3

Law for Business Mr. Bernstein Federal Court System Article III of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court It also authorizes Congress to establish inferior Federal Courts as needed: District Courts Specialized Courts (ie Tax Court) Federal Agencies Circuit Courts (Courts of Appeal) 4

Law for Business Mr. Bernstein State, Local and Other Court Systems States also use hierarchy of Trial Courts, Appellate Courts and a Supreme Court Other Courts of Limited Jurisdiction: County Courts City or Municipal Courts Small Claims Courts Juvenile Courts Probate Courts 5