Question

Civil court cases are most often settled outside of court. Why do you think this happens? Think of what makes up a majority of civil cases before answering. Use evidence to back up your answers.

Answer 1

A majority of cases are settled outside of court because of a simple cost benefit analysis.

In a civil trial, a wrong party is working to have that wrong righted through action or financial means.

But lawyers cost money and jury trials take time. So, if you can get enough to be "made whole" without the cost of paying a lawyer for a jury trial, you are better off.

The downside to this is that the scales are tipped against poor people who are even less able to pay for attorneys.