Final answer:
The five steps in preparing for a typical civil lawsuit are filing the complaint, discovery, pretrial motions, trial, and appeals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The five steps in preparing for a typical civil lawsuit are:
Filing the complaint: The plaintiff, who is the injured party, initiates the lawsuit by filing a complaint or accusation against the defendant.
Discovery: Here both the parties gather information and evidence.
Pretrial motions: Either party may file motions to resolve certain issues or exclude evidence before the trial begins.
Trial: The case is presented to a judge or jury, where both parties present their arguments, call witnesses, and submit evidence.
Appeals: If either party is dissatisfied with the outcome, they can file an appeal to a higher court to review the case.