Criminal vs. Civil Court Cases (using OJ Simpson).

Summary

This lesson explains the differences between criminal and civil court cases. Criminal cases involve serious crimes like murder, theft, and assault, with the defendant needing to be found guilty 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' Civil cases deal with disputes between parties, such as property damage or breach of contract, and use a 'balance of probability' for guilt. The video also covers the O.J. Simpson case, highlighting how he was found not guilty in his criminal trial but was held liable in a civil case, resulting in a significant financial penalty.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Criminal cases deal with significant offenses like murder, theft, assault, and robbery, while civil cases involve disputes such as property damage, personal injury, and breach of contract.
• ⚖️ In a criminal case, someone is accused of breaking the law, while in a civil case, two opposing parties are in disagreement, and one party sues the other.
• 📏 The burden of proof differs: in criminal cases, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, while in civil cases, guilt is determined based on the balance of probability (more than 50%).
• 🧑‍⚖️ Criminal cases result in punishments like fines or jail time, while civil cases typically lead to restitution, which is financial compensation for damages.
• 🧤 The O.J. Simpson case is used as an example, where he was acquitted in the criminal trial but found liable in the civil trial for wrongful death.
• 👩‍⚖️ In the criminal trial, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty because the evidence, including the glove that didn't fit, raised reasonable doubt.
• 💰 In the civil trial, O.J. Simpson was found liable based on the balance of probability and ordered to pay $8.5 million for the wrongful deaths.
• 💡 Acquittal in a criminal case means dropping charges, as in O.J. Simpson's case when the jury found reasonable doubt.
• ⚖️ Civil cases only need a majority of evidence (50% or more) to prove liability, unlike the higher standard in criminal cases.
• 📝 The lesson emphasizes the different legal standards and consequences in criminal versus civil cases, with an example from a well-known trial.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a criminal court case and a civil court case?

The main difference is that a criminal court case involves someone accused of breaking the law, such as theft, murder, or assault, while a civil court case involves a disagreement between two parties, such as property damage or breach of contract.

What are some examples of criminal cases mentioned in the script?

Examples of criminal cases mentioned include theft, murder, fraud, assault, and robbery.

What are some examples of civil cases discussed in the script?

Examples of civil cases include damage to other people's property, personal injury, breach of contract, and battery.

What does 'burden of proof' mean in the context of criminal and civil cases?

Burden of proof refers to the level of certainty required to prove a defendant's guilt. In criminal cases, the defendant must be proven guilty 'beyond a reasonable doubt,' while in civil cases, guilt is determined based on the 'balance of probability.'

What does 'beyond a reasonable doubt' mean in a criminal court case?

'Beyond a reasonable doubt' means that the jury must be certain that the defendant committed the crime, with all evidence pointing towards the defendant alone.

How is guilt determined in a civil court case?

In a civil court case, guilt is determined based on the 'balance of probability,' meaning that if more than 50% of the evidence points towards the defendant's guilt, they are considered guilty.

What are the possible punishments in a criminal court case?

Punishments in a criminal court case typically involve fines and/or jail time.

What is restitution in the context of a civil court case?

Restitution in a civil court case refers to monetary compensation that the guilty party must pay to cover damages caused by their actions.

How did the phrase 'glove don't fit, must acquit' relate to O.J. Simpson's criminal trial?

The phrase 'glove don't fit, must acquit' became significant in O.J. Simpson's criminal trial because the gloves found at the murder scene did not fit him, which led to doubts about his guilt and contributed to the jury's decision to acquit him.

What was the outcome of O.J. Simpson's civil court case related to the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman?

In the civil court case, O.J. Simpson was found guilty based on the balance of probability and was ordered to pay $8.5 million in damages for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.