Final answer:
Civil violations can be resolved in a court trial before a jury or a judge, with the lawsuit duration influenced by the statute of limitations. The Seventh Amendment guarantees a jury trial in civil cases over $20 unless waived, and one can face both criminal and civil trials for the same act as the legal standards differ.
Step-by-step explanation:
Settling Civil Violations
Civil violations can be settled through a court trial, either before a jury or a judge (in what is known as a bench trial). Most civil cases, especially when they involve small amounts of money, may be decided by a judge alone. Civil court proceedings occur when one party alleges harm by another, and unlike criminal cases where one risks loss of liberty, civil disputes typically concern loss of property or financial compensation.
The time you have to bring a civil action is determined by the statute of limitations, which varies depending on the jurisdiction and the type of civil claim. To encourage a fair trial, the Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury in civil cases involving an asset of twenty dollars or more, mirroring the safeguard present in the Sixth Amendment for criminal cases. However, this right can be waived by both parties.
It is possible for a person to be tried twice for the same act if they face both criminal and civil trials, as the legal standards differ greatly—'beyond a reasonable doubt' for criminal cases and 'preponderance of the evidence' in civil cases. An example of this is the O.J. Simpson case. While he was acquitted in a criminal trial, he was later found liable in a civil trial for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman.