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What is a judgment from a lawsuit?
A Judgement is a decision made in a civil matter. Let's make an example: You loaned a friend $500 to repair their car with a contract stating that they must pay $10 every w…eek for 50 weeks. It's also written that If your friend misses a payment, you may add on an additional payment valued the same as your friends weekly payment ($10). You both signed the contract and it was notarized. Now let's say that after 49 payments your friend refuses to make the final $10 payment to you. You'd file a tort action (civil lawsuit) against your friend seeking damages, in the amount of $20. ($10 on the principal, $10 worth of interest as a result of damages incurred). Now the Judge wants to see your contract, he determines it was valid and your friend broke the terms in the contract (breach). He then submits a Judgement or decision, awarding you $20.00. Your friend is generally required to pay that back within the terms of the settlement (Judgement/decision/award), or face steeper penalties. A Judgement however may be appealed, on the basis of evidential or information used that was not factual. Let's say for example, you never added that $10.00 interest for late payments, but provided the court with a contract that contained that. If the Judge was to rule in your favor and the defendant found out, he could appeal to have Summary Judgement overturned. (MORE)
