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What is the difference between commercial and civil litigation?

On Behalf of | Jan 27, 2025 | Business & Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation |

Knowing the difference between commercial and civil litigation can help you better understand legal disputes. Both involve resolving conflicts in court, but they focus on different types of issues and participants.

What is commercial litigation?

Commercial litigation deals with legal conflicts in the business world. These cases usually involve businesses, partnerships, or business owners. Common examples include breach of contract, fraud, intellectual property disputes, and partnership disagreements. Commercial cases often require a deeper understanding of financial records, contracts, and business regulations.

These disputes usually happen between businesses or between businesses and their clients. They can involve complex issues that need specific strategies, such as reviewing financial transactions or interpreting contracts.

What is civil litigation?

Civil litigation covers a broader range of legal disputes. These cases can include personal injury, property conflicts, family law, and landlord-tenant issues. Civil litigation is more focused on personal or non-business matters, although it can sometimes involve businesses.

For example, if someone slips and falls at a business, that is considered civil litigation. Unlike commercial litigation, civil cases are usually less technical and don’t require as much industry-specific knowledge.

How do courts handle these cases?

Commercial litigation may involve specialized courts, like Georgia’s Business Court. These courts focus on business-related disputes and aim to resolve them efficiently. Civil cases are handled in general state or federal courts. Civil litigation usually follows a simpler process compared to the more detailed filings and motions common in commercial disputes.

Why does the difference matter?

Understanding whether your dispute falls under commercial or civil litigation can help you prepare better. For businesses, commercial cases often require specific strategies and resources. For individuals, knowing that your case is civil can help you understand how it fits into the legal system.