Final answer:
The statement is false. Double jeopardy does not prevent someone from being sued for wrongful death in a civil court after being acquitted in a criminal trial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false.
The concept of double jeopardy, which is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, prevents individuals from being tried again for the same crime after being acquitted in a criminal trial. However, it does not prevent someone from being sued for wrongful death in a civil court even after a not guilty verdict in a criminal trial. This is because civil cases have a lower standard of proof, known as a "preponderance of the evidence", compared to the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard required in criminal cases.
One notable example is the case of OJ Simpson. He was tried for murder in 1996 and the jury reached a not guilty verdict. However, he was later sued for wrongful death in civil court and found liable for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, resulting in a financial penalty.