Final answer:
A plaintiff must have legitimate standing to sue, with concrete injury or harm, and meet the burden of proof such as 'beyond a preponderance of the evidence' in civil cases. The Constitution also provides rights to a speedy and public trial, confrontation of witnesses, and a jury trial in civil cases exceeding twenty dollars.
Step-by-step explanation:
A plaintiff cannot bring suit unless he or she has fulfilled the requirement of having a legitimate standing to sue, meaning there must be a concrete injury or harm that the court can address. In civil cases, the plaintiff must demonstrate to the court that there is sufficient grounds to bring the case.
This involves showing that the dispute involves an interest that is protectable under the law and that the court has the power to provide a remedy that will resolve the plaintiff's issue. For example, someone who wants to sue on the grounds of racial discrimination must prove that the discrimination led to concrete harm, such as unequal pay for similar work compared to an employee of another race with similar qualifications.
In adversarial judicial systems, such as in the United States, the plaintiff must meet the burden of proof. This means in civil cases, the plaintiff must prove the case 'beyond a preponderance of the evidence' while in criminal cases, the government must prove 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.
Lastly, under Amendments VI and VII to the U.S. Constitution, the plaintiff has the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to be confronted with the witnesses against them, and in civil cases, the right to a trial by jury if the value in controversy exceeds twenty dollars unless both parties waive this right.